When Arianna Huffington spoke Tuesday evening to a packed room of students in Emerson Suites, she said journalism  may change but will never die.

“The future of journalism is not the same as the future of journalists,” Huffington said. “Our [goal] is not just to save journalism but to strengthen journalism.”

As part of the Park Distinguished Visitor Series, Huffington — co-founder and editor in chief of The Huffington Post — gave the lecture “The Modern Journalism Paradox: The Best of Times Amidst the Worst of Times.” Each year, an individual representing one or more of the significant professions associated with the communications industry speaks as the Park Distinguished Visitor.

Jeff Cohen, associate professor of journalism and director of the Park Center for Independent Media, said Huffington is one of the most notable speakers the college has seen and is also a major force for change within the media.

“There’s no more a compelling and successful mover and shaker than Arianna Huffington,” he said.

Cohen said about 800 people attended the event, while additional people were directed to overflow seating in IC Square to watch her presentation on television.

The event was sponsored by both the Park Center for Independent Media and the Park Distinguished Visitor Series.

During her lecture, Huffington addressed four points about the versatility of journalism: its obligations to the larger community, the media’s responsibility to seek truth and report it accurately, the global rise of citizen journalism and independent media, and her belief that the core of journalism will never die — even if “print” articles no longer appear on paper.

Senior journalism major Lu Ann Fong said Huffington’s lecture impressed her.

“It’s fantastic that [the sponsors] could bring someone of this much importance to the independent media world to the college,” Fong said. “It was an incredibly well-developed speech.”  

Claire Perez, a graduate student in the communications program, said she found the speech optimistic.

“She was hopeful about journalism to the extent that she was really focused on the truth and not having other powers control the truth,” Perez said.

Matt Mogekwu, associate professor and chair of the journalism department, said he found Huffington’s lecture inspiring and thought it would give students a broader perspective about their future.

“[Loss of jobs] is the fear that journalism students have today about their future,” Mogekwu said. “It was very upbeat to hear her talk about the fact that journalism is not dead. In fact, this is the beginning.”

Huffington remained optimistic about young people entering the profession, emphasizing that this is a “golden age” for journalism.

“We must make a distinction between saving journalists and saving newspapers,” Huffington said. “There are a lot of innovative ways to support journalists. The fact that newspapers are dying doesn’t mean that there’s no place for journalists.”