Sure there's doom and gloom in the newspaper industry, but hope springs eternal in the summer, when interns gather at newsrooms throughout the country and get their first taste of chasing stories, see their first daily stories and photos in print and are afforded the opportunity to work alongside seasoned journalists.

Intern coordinator Shauna Goya and her team have assembled another sparkling group and I had the pleasure of speaking to them recently about the future of the business. The reality is that newspaper advertising revenues are declining and numerous newspapers are downsizing, but the good news is that young journalists who can write, report, take video, create blogs and easily adapt to a rapidly changing business will continue to be in demand. Many with decades in the business already have taken on new roles and found new energy and excitement in their jobs.

But our future is really in the hands of young journalists such as Kelli Miura, Leanne Ta, Ashley Ako, Akemi Hiatt and Lacy Matsumoto, our 2008 intern class.

Miura, a junior at UH majoring in journalism and sociology, is eager to become a professional journalist and wants to learn her print and online skills here and in college. If she cannot find a job in journalism, she would consider teaching or finding something in the sociology field.

Her advice for The Advertiser's growth is to be mindful of our core readers, those who are getting older and dealing with health issues and aging parents. But, Miura said, we should also be connecting with younger readers.

"The Advertiser's Web site, mobile version and blogs are great ways to get the younger crowd interested in news," she said. "Anything to get people caring about the news."

Ako's interest in journalism started with her work on her high school newspaper, Ka Leo O Waianae, as well as The Rebel Yell at the University of Las Vegas, Nevada, where she majors in integrated marketing communications. She realizes that broadcast and print functions are merging with online responsibilities and wisely wants to be part of the advancing technology.

"The way I see it, maybe in 20 years or so, newspapers will be something of the past," she said. "With a mobile phone that has access to the Web, people can get RSS feeds or go to the Drudge Report to get news. The only way I can see the newspaper industry surviving is by making people still want the print version on their hands. And to do that, we need to think ahead."

McKinley High School grad Ta is a philosophy, politics and economics major at the University of Pennsylvania, where she is entering her senior year. Her choice of majors is reflective in the uncertainty she feels as she finishes her college career. If she doesn't pursue a journalism job, she will look at work in law or public policy.

"Young people are getting their news from blogs, video clips, multimedia," Ta said. "I rarely pick up the print edition of the newspapers that I read. If newspapers could find ways to generate more revenue from their Web site, this would help to keep the industry alive."

A graduate of Hawaii Preparatory Academy in Kamuela, photography intern Hiatt is now at New York University, a big change from small town to big city. In the second semester of her junior year, she studied at the University of Ghana in Legon. Now she is taking full advantage of online opportunities such as video, slideshows and other interactive features.

Hiatt suggested more online video and the ad revenue attached to it as a way to keep the media industry growing.

"I think the problem for many readers (especially younger ones) is that they don't have enough time to read the paper," she said. "It's much easier to check online."

Matsumoto, finishing her last semester at UH-Manoa, said she thinks she will always keep her hand in lifestyle journalism, whether it is writing about fashion and night life or getting involved in social networking. She thinks that's a good way to hook young people to the newspaper and to keep them reading about other topics.

"As for layoffs and the future of newspapers, I don't fear it because change is inevitable, but I do intend on doing what I can to bring awareness of the importance of newspapers to people of my age group by writing things that they can relate to," she said.

These bright young interns have some great points and we would be smart not only to listen to what they say but to keep them engaged and interested in our business because our future depends on it.

Mark Platte is senior vice president/editor of The Advertiser.