I'm preparing a send-off note for the students who took my storytelling class this quarter. But given the number of high school and college-aged journalists who follow me, I think I should share part of it here too.

Dear Young Journalists Everywhere: 1/5

The journalism industry frustrates me to no end. A paragraph-long list of issues would only begin to scratch the surface of the industry’s ills, but I’m a storyteller, and I understand that we’re doing important work, so I continue to soldier through. I hope you feel the same 2/5

One of my core missions is to create more paths for young storytellers to enter the industry. And the root of that is reminding you guys of one V IMPORTANT thing: We need you.

There are a few truths that keep me going, and, if you care, I’d like to share those with you: 3/5

Our industry is in dire need of transformation. It’ll be up to storytellers in your generation to lead that transformation. Right now, we have more questions than answers: What does “mainstream” storytelling look like 20 years from now? 4/5

How do we connect with connect with audiences that institutions have neglected for decades? How do we combat growing issues of disinformation? How do we make our storytelling more democratic? Inclusive? Innovative?

I’m extremely excited to see what you guys come up with. 5/5