Maybe I’m just fighting the blue mood, but suddenly I feel like Jonah.

I stumbled across this article, which didn’t make me feel better. Something the author wrote struck a nerve, though I’m not sure yet what kind of affect this should have on me:

Journalism is best learned by doing it. Mostly, an aspiring reporter needs a job, preferably for an exacting editor. You try to be accurate, clear, quick, perceptive and engaging. These are not abstract skills learned in a classroom. At best, journalism schools are necessary evils. They provide basic training – usually through mock newsrooms – that most papers and broadcast stations won’t. Some get this training on college papers and stations. Journalism school is an alternative. But keep it brief. In general, universities are sheltered places. Most professors have job security. Their politics don’t reflect national politics (less than 20 percent rate themselves “conservative'’).

Yes, universities are sheltered places. Yes, sometimes I wonder if I’m even on the right career track. Training to be a journalist in a society which seems to distrust journalists more and more these days is not easy. Not that I wanted to become a journalist because it was comfortable, but now I’m not sure about my long-term career goals. It’s an icky feeling.