New(s) Kids on the Block: Morgan Hardy’s Resiliency in Journalism

Journalism, is a profession with the very rare quality of both being timeless, ever-changing and wholly necessary in society. This requires journalists to both remain true to the practice while still adapting. Many journalists, like Morgan Hardy, a second year masters student at the University of Georgia. Pursuing her degree in journalism and mass communication, has been evolving with the changes in a variety of ways.

“People my age are really trying to start a change of format in journalism,” said Hardy. “We’re not just talking heads, we’re people.”

Hardy has stated her concern with AI, stating that her biggest struggle has been dealing with its newfound prevalence in the journalism field. “I think AI can become very dangerous over time if we’re not watching it closely.” Hardy went on to explain how the job market right now is filled with job offerings to edit articles written by AI rather than actually writing anything, unfortunately.

But even as prevalent as this problem has become, Hardy advocated that journalism is more than just reporting a story, it’s also about the person writing it. Which is something that AI can’t replicate as “AI loses the emotion of a story.” 

In response to AI’s ascendancy, many journalists, Hardy included, have adapted their passion for journalism into different medium and styles. “You won’t known until you have tried,” said Hardy, who’s experimented with all forms of journalism from broadcasts and newspapers to documentaries. “So I tried multiple forms of journalism to see which one stuck.”

After much experimentation, Hardy said that she was taking the steps to work in digital media. “Because digital media is so big right now, especially with all of the changes with AI, I just want to be a part of that change and what’s going to happen next.”

This adaptation and willingness to transform, especially to combat the issue at hand as she’s doing, will enable Hardy to prevail in her career. Hardy reflects the unwavering resiliency of journalism as she’s adapted throughout her career. Through every new hurdle it comes across, journalism remains a timeless and indispensable part of life. So as Hardy and her career grows and evolves with the times, her portrayal of stories, no matter the format, will endure.

“Watching a lot of reporters my age making breakthroughs has been my inspiration,” said Hardy. “They’re changing the content of reporting. Not the facts, but reporting on it in a different way that’s more timely.”