Hamrick explores 'digital transition' in Kansas visits, highlights Oct. 24 luncheon speaker, TMZ's Levin

Journalism students, practitioners and news consumers are all concerned about the digital transition in the media industry, National Press Club President Mark Hamrick found during a recent visit to his native Kansas and his alma mater, the University of Kansas.

"It became clear to me that the tremendous shifts in technology we're all experiencing are also causing more than just a little stress," Hamrick writes in his latest blog post, which can be found on the Club homepage (www.press.org) in the From the President's Desk section.

"Where's the stress occurring? It is certainly among the young journalism students, who are trying to anticipate where the next jobs will be," Hamrick writes. "There's stress among consumers of news. People are worried about the viability of their hometown newspapers and broadcast outlets, wondering who will monitor members of Congress, leaders at the Statehouse and local city commission. Worry extends to some of my long-time friends in the Midwest in journalism-related professions. Will they have job security?"

Hamrick highlighted upcoming and recent Club luncheon speakers who have been pioneers in online journalism.

"There are many winners and losers amid these shifts," Hamrick writes. "Some of the easy to peg winners are speaking at the National Press Club this year, including Harvey Levin of TMZ.com and Arianna Huffington. They saw the digital train coming down the tracks."

Levin will headline an Oct. 24 Club luncheon.

The luncheon begins at 12:30 p.m. with the speech beginning at 1 p.m. and ending at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $18 for Club members, $29 for their guests and $36 for general admission. To reserve tickets, please e-mail [email protected] or call 202-662-7501. Tickets must be paid for at time of reservation.