Instructor Cory Smith angles the camera during a broadcast lab.

When cherubs return home from the journalism program at the National High School Institute, they have one year of high school and four years of college before they start applying for jobs and launching their careers.

“I feel ready to pursue what I want to pursue,” Mike Juliani, of Pasadena, Calif., said. “I want to work on a magazine or a newspaper. I’ll start out as a beat writer, but I want to work up to a columnist.”

To achieve his goals, Juliani will have to navigate an industry that many consider to be in decline. But this summer, lecturers and instructors chose to instead focus on the opportunities that will exist in the future.

Bret Begun, national affairs editor of Newsweek, stressed the importance of networking and keeping in touch with fellow cherubs. Begun, a guest instructor at the program, gave an example of one cherub who made fun of a short classmate who ended up being president of a large television network.

Rich Gordon, an associate professor at Medill, spoke about the emergence of new types of journalism jobs and the importance of attracting readers with interactive stories.

Cherub instructors have also shed light on how to get jobs in the world of journalism.

“You’ll need basic reporting skills and basic news gathering skills,” Elia Powers said. “But you’ll also need to work on several platforms. You’ll need to be able to do audio, video and design.”

Like Begun, Powers emphasized networking.

“Sometimes you can find out about a job before it’s posted online,” Powers said. “Some publishers don’t even post job positions and just target people. You can look online but by the time it’s on there, they probably already have 100 résumés.”

Powers landed a job at the Los Angeles Times after his cousin, who worked there, told him about an opening.

Although the industry is undergoing major changes, he said, it will come out strong once Web sites figure out advertising models.

“There’s a shakedown going on,” Powers said. “Right now there are fewer jobs in reporting, but more as an editor or a producer. They’re not reporting jobs, but there is still some journalism involved. More jobs will be devised and the number of reporters will spike again.”

The Internet and other new technologies will change the way journalism will be taught and the way people will want their news, instructor Cory Smith said.

“I see technology playing an even greater part in your college careers,” he said. “There’s going to be a need for instant gratification. People need it right there on the spot. People will need news on their e-mails or phones. They don’t want to have to turn on a TV.”

Ethics and reputations will still be vital in a multimedia world, Powers said.

“First you have to prove you are trustworthy,” Powers said. “That’s becoming less and less of a given. People are looking at your backgrounds to prove you have experience at a publication.”

Powers encouraged cherubs to be active about starting their careers.

“By the time you graduate it will be easier than it is now,” he said. “While you’re in college, design your own Web site.  Get as much writing experience as you can.  Promote yourself.”