Emily Slason, a senior at Towson, chooses to do her homework on her bedroom floor. Slason has been studying Spanish secondary education for the past three years.

Slason is currently working in a Baltimore County middle school to fulfill her mandatory internship requirement. She said she has wanted to be a Spanish teacher for as long as she can remember.

Slason is preparing a lesson plan for three middle school classes. She observed classrooms last semester in preparation for the increased involvement this year.

Slason also balances a full Spanish major on top of the education requirements. This has required careful planning in order for her to graduate in four years.

For years, he has fed, cleaned and watched his neighbors animals- all eight of them.  His daily routine is full of cleaning, feeding and other jobs, but he leaves some time for fun too. Watch the slide show >>

This week, the New York Times reported about The Texas Tribune, an online newspaper which discusses current issues and developments in the Texas state government. Even though the site is based just minutes from the Ft. Hood tragedy, the “front page” story was about Texas politicians. The site has created a specific purpose and intends to stick to it, even though it may not be the most popular topic.

The article discusses several reasons that the Tribune represents a sustainable future for journalism. “The theory is that a group of well-compensated editors and writers…  will create valuable reporting shared by citizens

Texas Tribune Editor Evan Smith and investor John Thornton standing in front of the Texas captial building. The two have worked together over the past few months to create a totally online newsite. (Photo by: The New York Times)

and other news media outlets, a kind of digital version of public radio,” according to the Times. The non-profit organization utilizes up-to-date technology, as well as traditional methods to provide important news to the public.

I think this website embodies the future of journalism. It acknowledges, what I see, as the crucial need for a combination of established newspapers, as well outlets for more specific information. It has created a totally online source for receiving news, which is extremely important today.

To me, journalism is something that requires time, passion, drive and experience. Not just a laptop and an idea. I think that the values of technology are best realized by the people who have studied journalism and can provide real news in innovative ways, like the Tribune has.