I think it’s pretty safe to say that we all have some older relatives who aren’t quite as “tech literate” as us. They’re the ones who prefer communication by sending a letter or by making a phone call, rather than sending a text. Where they find themselves in this changing world of communication might not be the best real estate. Being stuck in that influx has, in my opinion, has created a divide between generations that is growing.

As CHS leads the way with the Greyhound Media Network, different media outlets are coming together in a way to make better efficiency and accessibility out of the way events at CHS are covered. This is a growing trend among other news -gathering organizations. By simply visiting the website for The Indianapolis Star, the presence of video and the option to discuss news stories on topics via Twitter and Facebook is a phenomenon that would have been unheard of a decade ago. For members of our generation, we roll with the tide, adjusting to changes in how we communicate. I don’t know about you, but as a third grader, I’d call friends to make plans on our land-line, where I now text them today. With that being said, are our parents and grandparents following suit, or is there reluctance in changing? Although the advent of new technology and new ways to share news, we as students still must realize that the most important principle in journalism, that it is open to everyone. If we are to respect our elders, we must make sure that we aren’t shunning them, in a way, by unintentionally using technology to “block them out” of the conversation.

According to a study conducted in 2010 by the Pew Research Center, fewer than half of people 75 and older didn’t own a cell phone. What are the odds that those 50 plus percent of older Americans that do have phones are going to use Twitter to check their trusted news organizations? Although I have nothing but excitement and great expectations for the GMN, I hope with it we will remember that we can’t abandon the traditional forms of communication that are priceless in creating relationships with people. As journalists, we shouldn’t be creating media that excludes some of the people who were instrumental in the very institutions that we are covering today.

Similar to the generation gap present in the media world, it’s also present elsewhere. In an editorial in the online companion (go figure) of the Arizona Business Magazine, light was shed on the “generational gap” between people in the workforce.  By allowing technology to dominate how we communicate, younger people will continue to force older Americans out of work, something prevalent in our society today.

If we stay vigilant of including everyone, we can be sure that we won’t be excluding those in our society with the most wisdom to offer.

Looking at this year, I take a lot of pride in the fact that I’m a part of the staff that is bringing you the Greyhound Media Network. I expect CHS to be a pioneer in excellence – business as usual yet at the same time we need to follow Atticus Finch’s advice, and look at the evolving form of media in the “shoes” of the older generations. If we do that, we can assure what they have to teach us will not be forgotten.