Robert Duffley, of Germantown, Tenn., was sure he would want a career in online journalism by the end of five weeks at the National High School Institute. But then he worked with video cameras.

“Here we have the equipment to produce videos like in the real world,” he said. “I got to work with cameras, produce in the newsroom and watch the live newscast at CBS.”

Duffley said he is now interested in producing for a TV station or working with technical aspects of the news.  He said that he likes being behind the camera and the reactions of people who watched his work in the weekly cherub video blog.

“It’s cool to see people laugh at something I thought of for Club Vlog,” Duffley said. “I like hearing them talk about something I produced.”

Jeneen Garchow, of Rockford, Mich., said her interest in journalism has broadened beyond magazine writing. She wants to pursue a career in online journalism.

“I want to help people get information instantaneously,” she said. “And it’s where the future of journalism lies.”

Garchow said she is more interested in writing for the Internet because of lectures on new media and technology. Instructor Sarahmaria Gomez’s lectures also helpedGarchow realize she could master the basics of the Internet.

“I was leaning towards online journalism, and the new media lecture tipped me over the edge,” Garchow said. “I didn’t think I could do Dreamweaver. Now I think could learn it, and it wouldn’t be impossible for me.”

Zanny Lannin, of Edina, Minn., said she wanted to be a newspaper reporter but the cherub program helped her realize the pace is too fast for her.

“I need more time to interview and put things together,” Lannin said. “When they gave us a deadline an hour away, I realized I didn’t like that much.”

Lannin said talking to Cynthia Wang, an associate bureau chief for the Los Angeles office of People magazine, and visiting the Newsweek office in Chicago gave her more insight into the production and design of a magazine. She said now she wants to be a magazine journalist.

“A newspaper has the same basic layout everyday,” Lannin said. “You can get a bit more creative with the design of a magazine.”

Duffley said the program helped him consider other career options.

“If I hadn’t come to cherubs, I don’t think I would have realized I liked video until much later in college,” Duffley said. “Cherubs has given me a head start and I think that’s what the program is all about.”