As multimedia editor for the Montgomery Advertiser, I manage the teams of talented employees who produce photos and videos for our news organization; who produce the newspaper's daily printed and online versions; and who oversee our database, calendar operations an other web-based in support of montgomeryadvertiser.com. The three interns who were scheduled to come here from the Diversity Institute's multimedia program would have worked under my supervision and would have been welcomed enthusiastically. As a 14-year journalist and as a minority, I welcome every opportunity to bring fresh blood and news ideas into our industry. Over the years, I have tried to do my part to support endeavors that boost minority representation among our ranks. But as a manager who has to deal with the reality of the challenges our industry and company are facing, I support wholeheartedly the difficult decision that was made to cancel those students' internships. I won't debate the merits of a two-week program that contends it can capably prepare graduates for careers in multimedia, but I can't imagine any executive editor or managing editor faced with the kinds of choices we were facing would have sacrificed a full-time employee for the sake of college students workind six-week internships. Should we accept the challenge of seeding and nurturing the industry's future? Do we bear an obligation as minority journalists and managers to reach back and help up those who follow? Must we fulfill our obligation to teach future journalists the elements of our profession that go beyond technical proficiency? To each of these questions, the answer from any responsible journalist should be "yes," and I think Wanda Lloyd's record would characterize her as such a journalist. Of course, credit is due to Mr. Pittman for finding opportunities within his company for these students, but this incident hardly merits condemnation of Wanda or our employers. She has a proven record of supporting diversity initiatives and that award-winning record is one of the reasons I pursued employment at the Advertiser. The Gannett Co. and its subsidiaries - including the Advertiser - are regularly recognized for their support of diversity and efforts to promote it. I would hope that from the rank and file through the top levels of management, our colleagues across the industry would extend to us the benefit of a doubt in the handling of this unfortunate situation. We remain committed to providing opportunities for journalists from a variety of backgrounds and skill sets.