Dream a Little Dream of Me, Mr. Pitt

Oh lord, where do I start? As an aspiring journalist, I feel that I must stay true to my passions while maintaining a strict regimen of objectivity. But how is that possible with what I want to do?

It all started a long time ago. For some reason, I found myself "mildly" entranced by Brad Pitt's personage as a wee lad. I think it was Legends of the Fall what did it to me. Anyway, since then, I've felt a kinship with the Rich and the Famous that is undeniable. For example, I've shaken hands with Juliette Lewis, one of Brad's past flames, and it was terrifically awesome. I realize that some or all this may sound wonderfully creepy, but bear with me, folks.

Putting my good Grady degree to work, I would like to pursue a career in celebrity journalism. No, not like that trash bag Perez Hilton -- he brings more drama than Shakespeare. What I'm talking about is the good old-fashioned people working. I adore an intimate setting with two people being as candid as professionally possible. One of the things missing in celebrity today is true star power, like back in the old days. Teens are fawning over the likes of Justin Bieber and inquiring as to what exactly has been up Ms. Lohan's nose lately. Who cares!

We need more Marilyn Monroes, more James Deans, more Sidney Poitiers. True stars are classy, dammit, even when they're reckless. Brad Pitt does that for me.

To capture this more purist sense of celebrity, I would need to isolate a truly thinking audience. I would aim at fans who are interested in every aspect of production that goes into a movie. Sure, some may say that I would be speaking to the elitist members of film society, but if you can tell me who directed, starred in and wrote the musical score for Punch Drunk Love, then you are closer to appreciating the art that is film.

One publication that I feel hits pretty close to who celebrities are as people --and what makes them stars -- is PARADE magazine. They really do a good job of getting great exclusive features. Sure, there's some gossip involved, but I'd say on the whole that they are pretty respected within the industry.

One story I'd run would be this piece on Francis Ford Coppola. It paints a nice picture of the infamous director's choices made over the years, and is relevant because of the release of Apocalypse Now on blu-ray. Pretty high profile if you ask me. I've always respected Mr. Coppola's work, even though I've heard he's quite the drama queen himself. But, dammit, he knows how to direct a film, and has produced many a classic over the years. Good feature for my dream publication.

Who doesn't like George Clooney? Okay, don't answer that. I would run this particular article because I liked the movie, and it showcases the multitasking abilities of truly talented people in film. GQ magazine is pretty classy, and this gem of a story lets you see inside the mind of one of Hollywood's giants.

Who would have thought that IGN would have ever gotten an interview with the greatness himself, Brad Pitt? Sure, this article ran several years ago, but it'd go straight into my publication because it shows a Pitt that is pre-Jolie, but just barely. Kind of like right before a volcano explodes. Plus, it's just great that a site that I've been visiting for years, IGN, got an interview with Mr. Pitt. Gives me hope that I could get one for my publication as well.

This isn't exactly an article, but I would maim and slaughter for the rights to reprint this little gem in my dream publication. It's Audrey Hepburn talking about gardens, for crying out loud! I genuinely love this woman, and wish she were still alive today. Too, too sad. But I think there could be a place in my publication that would revisit classic interviews with Stars of the past to show these up and coming youngsters how to really do it.

The last article I have chosen exemplifies a different side of the business, one where you take someone from a whole 'nother universe and transplant them into stardom. Who am I talking about? Why, Mos Def, of course. This guy's a real class act. From rhymes and music to acting up a storm, Mos Def performs brilliantly in any area he chooses to shine. Do yourself a favor and read this SPIN article. Makes me like the man even more! He's a real guy, after all.

My Dream Job

My dream job would be working full-time as a field editor or feature photographer for Southern Living. I love small towns, interior design, antiques, gardening and cooking. Southern Living combines all of these things. I can't remember a time when my mom and grandma didn't have several editions of SL on their coffee table. SL's target audience is broad - middle age/elderly women, of course, but I have many friends that enjoy it as well.

The first article I would run would be this article on vintage style. It's from the SL website, and the couple whose home is being shown is from Athens...how cool is that? Feature articles like this would be things I would be responsible for as a feature photographer. I would travel to the location alongside a writer and put together a story to submit to the editor who makes the executive decision on whether or not to run it in the magazine.

A few years ago National Geographic included "ZIPUSA" in each edition. Basically, they would randomly choose a zipcode within the United States, send a writer and photographer, and do a two to three page story profiling the town. I would love to bring this concept to Southern Living, but narrow down the area, of course, to only the southern portion of the United States. They do highlight southern towns regularly, but I'd love to make it a monthly feature that people look forward to and flip to first.

Another aspect I would like to include in the magazine would be a monthly blogger's column. It doesn't have to be the same blogger each month, just an interesting, opinionated column outline great food, travel, and cultural stories from the South. There's not really a specific link I could include here....

I would consider running this article, also, pertaining to kid-friendly foods. As boring as it sounds to some, I wouldn't mind photographing food for the magazine on occasion. I think this article would appeal to both middle-age and elderly women and help them cook food that their kids/grandkids will enjoy. I would definitely add a 'southern twist' to it before putting it in SL, though.

Finally, I would run this article from the SL website, especially this time of year. It concerns the best plants for the fall season. I would run this because I think it would appeal to the male readers, also.

Target audience/future job

I think I'm a little less picky than some. There really is no "dream job" for me. As long as I'm writing and taking pictures for a living, I'll be happy. That being said, I definitly would like to eventually make the move from newspaper to magazine - and then eventually work full-time writing fiction.
A magazine here in Atlanta called Jezebel would be a good fit for me. I think the target audience is probably upper-middle class to upper-class women age 25-plus.



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Here are five recent publications of theirs I would probably choose to run for my target audience:
1)An October article called In session with Sheryl. It's a feature about Sheryl Crow that dives into her musical accomplishments along with her family life and battle against Cancer. (Especially since it's National Breast Cancer Awareness Month) http://www.jezebelmagazine.com/ArticleView.aspx?article=26308e16-9b5b-40df-92ab-43680233c81a

2)The next article I would include is from an April issue and the article is called Into the Light. http://www.jezebelmagazine.com/ArticleView.aspx?article=473e2043-0243-4590-91a8-8d073a5b67f5. This article is look into the band The Whigs - from Athens. I think adding a musical feature will probably draw some of the younger readers (18-30) and it's a great locally-based article too.

3)I would definitely add this travel article on Italy. http://www.jezebelmagazine.com/ArticleView.aspx?article=9c78ff28-c981-4c85-a44b-2783b6a0ba02. This would be something some of the older and upper-class women would be interested in reading and it's a great chance to run amazing photos.

4)The next piece I would run is called Superman. http://www.jezebelmagazine.com/ArticleView.aspx?article=6b6d0cb7-c825-448a-80e1-67125dda0fbf. This article would kill two birds with one stone. It's a feature on a local chef - who is a man. I think this would appeal to the upper-class also with the shop being a quaint sandwich shop in Poncey-Highland. It may also interest foodies and other chefs.

5) The last article I would run is called Up in Smoke and focuses on the hottest fashion trends for fall. http://www.jezebelmagazine.com/ArticleView.aspx?article=0bde38bd-6f8c-4281-b2fe-51875c3606b0. Almost all women are interested in that and are always looking for new ideas. The article also turns some attention on make-up trends - not just clothing.

Targeting Travel + Leisure

My target publication is Travel + Leisure magazine. The target audience for this magazine is middle to upper class Americans ranging in age from mid-twenties to late sixties.

I would definitely run the World's Best Hotels 2010 article. This is a great highlight to what the magazine is all about, traveling to all corners of the world with some insight from fellow travelers. This article's insight comes in the form of a summation of the best hotels around the globe, whether they be noted for their fair pricing or their extreme extravagance. What I particularly liked about this piece is that the list, which is comprised of 100 hotels total, has been chosen by the magazines readers.

Another piece I would run online isn't a written story but a photo contest. The visuals in this kind of article would be a wonderful draw to regular readers and would also be a great way to catch the eyes of potential new readers. I think this also another innovative way to get the readers involved and invested in the magazine. The photo contest is a way to let the voice and artistry of the readers to be heard and seen. I feel it's a necessity for a publication like Travel + Leisure to have visual elements, and to do that in such a way where readers get to share a personal story and experience through their own photos is a seemless fit.

There is currently a story titled "Best Life Changing Trips" on T+L's website. It's a story I was particularly drawn to and would choose to run in the online publication. The article is actually not fueled by past personal experiences that have already changed peoples lives as I assumed, rather, it outlines 22 detailed trips designed by T+L's top operators. The article is succinct and inspiring. While it kind of works as an ad for the 22 'life changing' trips, it stirs the reader's ambition to do something unique and adventurous in their life. While not all can just jump on a plane to Antarctica, the research that made this compilation possible makes it easier for those who feel that time in their life approaching and gives inspiration to those who will seek it in their future.

The last story I would run is titled "Chef Vikas Khanna Asks, What Connects Food and Faith?" I like this story because it provides some depth to the magazine; it expands the topics T+L covers. It's an intriguing piece because many people relish in watching the food channel, many people feel food is important in their lives, as well as religion, but I have never come across a story or a person who has linked the importance of food to religion. The article is about a Sikh chef and delves into the some of the inspiration and ideas tied to the article title. But the piece also serves as an introduction to a film series called "Holy Kitchens", in which Vikas will explore the relationship between food and religion.

Vanity Fair: Where Style Meets Substance

Like Taylor, I hope to work for a book publishing house one day. I also write children's stories on the side. If I were to work in the journalism industry, however, my publication of choice would be Vanity Fair. Growing up I loved flipping through my mom's issues of Vanity Fair and looking at the striking photography of current and deceased public figures. As an adult reader, I appreciate the magazine's in-depth reporting and its coverage of more serious issues than other high-end culture magazine's like Vogue. I think the magazine expertly balances stylish design with pertinent social commentary.

Vanity Fair targets readers ages 21 to 54, but its median audience age is 40. Its male to female reader ratio is 23/77. The average Vanity Fair reader makes $75,000 to $100,000 a year. 73% of readers are college educated, and 31% of them work in managerial positions.

The first article I would include is the current cover story, Marilyn and Her Monsters. Dead celebrities sell more magazines than any other cover photos, and Marilyn Monroe is one of the most iconic celebrities of all time. This article keeps with Vanity Fair's effort to feature historical as well as current celebrities. Furthermore, Monroe's bright red lips and the words "Secret Diaries" printed in an equally glaring red on the November cover lure readers in, suggesting that the article includes thoughts from Monroe's own mouth.

I would also include an article from VF's October issue entitled Sarah Palin: The Sound and the Fury. The title of this article appeals to VF's target educated audience, because it references the famed literary work by William Faulkner. While the Monroe article paid tribute to historical pop culture, this article focuses on a current political figure. Although it does not always portray Palin in a flattering light, I like how this article deliberately gives more depth to her character and delves deeper into her emotions and life.

For a lighter change of pace, I would publish the brief piece from VF's October issue on Diana Agron from the hit series Glee. While the weighty Palin article covered a prominent political figure, this small feature highlights and up and coming pop culture celebrity. I like how this article focuses on Argon, although she is not one of the most prominent vocal presences on the musical comedy. Focusing on this talented actress provides a fresh take on this wildly popular new show.

In another nod to the literary appreciation of my readers, I would include the excerpt from Bethany McLean's book, All The Devils are Here from VF's September issue. McLean's book discusses investment companies such as Merrill Lynch and Goldman Sachs and the mortgage crisis. McLean's analysis of the housing market crash is relevant, thought provoking and draw on emotions of VF readers.

Finally I would include the article Washington, We Have a Problem from VF's September issue.This article offers a unique take on the current state of the White House, by following President Obama around on a typical work day. Access to a day in the life of the President shows how prestigious and well-respected VF is and gives readers a creative look at their leader.

Dream Job

My ideal occupation would be working for the Sports Business Journal. This weekly newspaper is my "target publication", because it provides great analysis and reporting of happenings in the sports world. Unlike other sports media outlets, like ESPN or Sports Illustrated, the SBJ provides in-depth coverage of sports from a business standpoint. The publication's target audience is for those employed within professional and collegiate sports organizations and to provide them with breaking news and trends within the industry.

The first story I would publish as editor of the Sports Business Journal would be their feature article from this week's issue, "He's all in". The article profiles Michael Jordan's in his new role as Owner of the Charlotte Bobcats. It is an interesting story since you get to see the day-to-day agenda of a NBA owner. It also profiles a important public figure/celebrity, who people are interested in. This story allows for people to get an idea of how he interacts with others within the Bobcats organization.

The second story I would publish is this story from the SBJ about the American Airlines Center in Dallas opening an after hours club for fans to attend after home games and other events at the arena. This article is important because it informs readers about new trends in the sports industry and what owners are doing to maximize profits.

In addition to providing coverage of the developing trends within the sports industry, I would also publish articles concerning news among the organizations. This article about ESPN calling meetings with Chase about low tv ratings for NASCAR coverage is an example of up to date news coverage. The article is much like one would you find in a business section of a newspaper, but instead directly applies to the sports world.

In addition to these SBJ articles, I would also provides columnists. The purpose of their stories would be to publish commentary to draw reader interest. One example would be from ESPN columnist Rick Reilly. He is known for his distinct writing style and establishes a personality
for the publication. A writer with a personality has the ability to draw a loyal audience and increase readership and awareness for the publication.

I would also use columns to provide commentary on polarizing issues within the industry. For example, this article by ESPN's Pat Forde discusses the topic of a college football playoff and elimination of the computer-based BCS ranking system. This is a popular subject that most sports fans have an opinion on, but Forde goes on to outline a new formating of teams in division-I college football that calls for the elimination of conferences. His story creates a unique idea, but one that would also stir up controversy. Articles like these stir up lots of readers comments/discussion, and thus, driving more traffic to the web page and/or publication.

Dream Job: Random House? NYTimes? USA Today?

It's a tad difficult to really get into this assignment for the sole reason that my target publication isn't really a publication... more of a publisher. I'm aiming for a career in the publishing industry. Random House! Or Penguin! Big cities, big names, big publishers. That is what I really want to do.

But, if I had to work in the journalism industry, which I may decide I want to do, I would aim to work with either the New York Times or USA Today. Since Briana talked about the NYTimes, I'll focus on USA Today. What I love about this news organization is its broad, understandable coverage of what is going on nationwide. It is well-recognized and is generally unbiased. I love that has spread itself across social media, websites, and a print paper. I also love that it recently announced that it would be restructuring itself. USA Today is a publication that is 'down with the times' and seems to be ready to move forward. (Note: NYTimes is still my favorite newspaper to read.) Its target audience: everyone in America. This is another thing I love about USA Today. It appeals to all sorts of readers. It isn't as uppity as the NYTimes. It is an easy read with local and national news.

The five recent articles from USA Today that I would chose to run are:

1. "GOP, Democrats both claim momentum for elections"

This article discusses the current elections at the moment, which is a relevant topic that readers NEED to see and understand. There is a handy link within the article that allows you to track the nationwide races. There are mentions of specific states. It is a succinct article with good information that is nationally relevant, just like the newspaper.

2. "France: Strikes costing up to $560M per day"

Not only is this article, but it is internationally relevant. The French strikes over the changing retirement age have been huge and costing France a great deal. USA Today tries to maintain itself as being national and international. This is a big deal and continuing to follow-up on this story is necessary.

3. "Mexico rehab center attack kills at least 10"

Another relevant international article that hits a little close to home in Mexico. Violence makes top headlines and this is an example of that. This also, like the France article, follows up on the continued violence in Mexico that has made headlines.

4. "Auburn takes over No. 1 spot in BCS standings followed by Oregon"

Gotta get that sports article somewhere in the top five. A relevant Monday article after a weekend of college football. This article is bound to attract page views and the sports readers. I'd definitely include it.

5. "Research teams find oil on bottom of Gulf"

This ongoing saga of the oil spill in the Gulf keeps coming. This story is a follow-up story that illuminates a new issue that hits the hearts of many Americans. Understandably, this article is one of the top viewed articles on USAToday.com. Gotta include the follow-up stories, especially on stories like this of national relevance.

What I love about USA Today is that it includes everything. Tons of national and international information. Such a broad array of articles could only be in a publication like this.

But even so, I'd still rather work for Random House. :)

My Dream Job: The New York Times

The "target publication" I hope to work for one day would have to be the New York Times. I think I will always be fascinated by the variety of topics covered by the paper and impressed by the well-written, thoughtful stories. Since the New York Times is a local, national and international newspaper, it has several target audiences based on geography -- residents of New York City, New York state, the U.S. and the world. As with the audiences of most newspapers, I imagine the New York Times' readership is skewed toward well-educated, middle- and upper-class readers.

The five recent articles from the New York Times I would choose to run are:

1. "Advocates Hope Transgender Identity Is Not a Defining One"

This article, in the Politics section, examines a trend in this year's elections across the country. It includes candidates from across the country, which is a good way to appeal to a national audience. I think it's a well-written and reported article, because it deals with the issue of transgender political candidates without making it too sensational. It also notes the interesting fact that some transgender candidates are against same-sex marriage.

2. "A Landlord Learns From His Son"

This article, a local profile from the New York section, could have run in any city paper across the country. But for many people, the New York Times is their local paper, so local coverage is important. This is not only a story about a creative solution a father and son found for a problem, but it's a story about people, which makes it more compelling to read than a story just about leaks in apartments or inventions to stop them.

3. "Spaghetti Tacos: Silly Enough For Young Eaters"

This is one of the more lighthearted articles of the New York Times, but I don't think that makes it any less worthy of being included in the paper. It will probably be of interest to parents with young kids, or kids who are old enough to read the newspaper themselves. For the rest of us, it provides a humorous glimpse into a kid-friendly food fad.

4. "Marijuana, Once Divisive, Brings Some Families Closer"

Like the first two articles, I chose this one because it takes what could be a simple story and gives it depth with personal stories. It deals with the increasing and sometimes medically legal use of marijuana among older people. It could have been a story comparing laws in different states and giving doctors' opinions, but the author found an interesting angle: adults whose parents once warned them about the dangers of drugs are now buying marijuana for those same parents. The article tells the stories of several families, and importantly, puts the "trend" in perspective by mentioning that less than 1 percent of people 65 and over said they had smoked marijuana in the past year.

5. "Why Can't Middle-Aged Women Have Long Hair?"

This is more of an opinion column than a news article, but I think it still deserves a place in the paper. Although it appeared in the Fashion and Style section, the author uses a fashion trend to explore larger issues of culture and feminism. I assume the target audience for this piece would be women, especially middle-aged women.

Target Publication

I picked National Geographic as my target publication. National Geographic reaches a worldwide audience – according to Wikipedia, it is published in over 32 different languages and has a worldwide circulation of nearly 9 million. Since National Geographic’s audience is so broad, the magazine covers a wide variety of stories from areas all over the world. It’s tagline when you visit its website is, “inspiring people to care about the planet since 1888.” It publishes stories about so many different global topics, including the environment and conservation issues, different cultures and groups of people around the world, conflicts between cultures and countries, and new scientific research.

So, since National Geographic’s audience is so wide, I have to choose articles that are applicable to audiences around the world. Also, since the magazine is only released once a month, many of the stories I choose need to be detailed enough to be able to run as a feature story that a reporter might work on for several months before it is published.

The first story I would choose is one I found on NPR about American politics and climate change policy. Since climate change is something that affects the entire world, and since the policies that America puts into place will set an example for other countries, I think this is an important and interesting story to run. It can also easily be expanded upon by going into more detail about other countries’ environmental policies.

The next story I would run would be this one I found on the New York Times about the outbreak of cholera in Haiti. Since the earthquake in Haiti was international news last year, I think this story would resonate with a worldwide audience. To expand on the story, I think National Geographic could look into where all the money and aid that was sent to Haiti after the earthquake went, and why the country is still in such a state of disrepair.

The third story I would choose to run would be this story form BBC News about India and Brazil’s plans to incorporate the economic value of nature into their policies. I think this story is really interesting, because I just read an article for my ecology class that talked about the different reasons people have for wanting to protect the environment. The article did not talk about the economic value of the environment, and I think this is a new and interesting concept that will be interesting to people around the world.

The fourth story is kind of cheating, since National Geographic ran it in its last issue. The issue’s cover story was on the Gulf oil spill, and the magazine offered a couple feature stories on the spill and how it affected the people, environment, animals and the economy of the areas it reached. The articles were really powerful and shed a lot of light on policies in place for the oil companies and what they have done in the past to get around them. The oil spill was a huge environmental disaster and received international coverage, so I think it is something the world needed to know about.

For my fifth story, I would choose to run this article from Time Magazine about the migration of humpback whales. I think this would be a cool short story to run in National Geographic, especially since the National Geographic Channel is premiering the Great Migrations series soon. Actually, I think this month’s National Geographic’s cover story is about migrations, but I haven’t gotten it yet. So maybe the humpback whale is included!

"Understanding comes with TIME"

If I could choose any publication to pour my life’s attention to it would be TIME magazine. While I thoroughly enjoy the heart behind more stylish, exciting and sexy magazines like Rolling Stone, the journalist in me wants to invest in providing the most relevant, accurate and fair information as possible to the public in order to provide the possibility for democracy. According to TIME’s editorial philosophy it “…separates the crucial from the trivial, converts information into knowledge, and transforms confusion into clarity through exceptional writing, first-hand reporting and stunning photography. Understanding comes with TIME.” Though I do not necessarily agree TIME magazine succeeds at all of this, its news-magazine status at least indicates it strives to do so.

TIME magazine’s target audience, like its content as a news magazine ought to be, is wide. It targets a variety of demographics and psychographics. While many would say TIME has a liberal lean, it theoretically targets anyone who wants to read the news (these people fall into their own demographic and psycho graphic categories).

I think the following articles were accurately and strategically placed to achieve TIME’s mission:

TIME’s story on bullying follows TIME’s mission by addressing the overarching topic of bullying, relevant to kids and parents alike, while covering the hard news story of the recent suicides of three teenage boys.

According to a local organization formed to stop sex trafficking, approximately 500 young girls are sold for sex in Georgia per month. TIME's recent article addresses sex trafficking, also a relevant topic to readers and one I consider to be in my top 5 to include in my magazine.

I would also include a story like this one on new advancements in treating amnesia to fulfil the need for readers to obtain relevant scientific information. Readers would find this relatable in the sense that it's not some far-off ailment that they could never personally develop (like some medical stories).

"Keeping Young Minds Healthy" is also of concern to many readers. I would include this story in my list of top relevant stories to put in my magazine.

And lastly I think TIME's story on Ted Kaufman is timely and politically important.

A future in magazines

Target publication: ELLE

Target audience: The chic, smart, independent woman age 18-49 with a median household income of $82,104. About 75% of readers have attended college and are currently employed.

Sample stories:
The short story about the opening of the new Ralph Lauren store in NYC would be included in my magazine because it’s a short, easy read that, with the help of several great photos of the store, will draw in a variety of readers. A story such as a lavish store opening is generic enough for everyone, yet interesting enough for the woman that ideally fits the target audience.

A reflection story about the legacy Alexander McQueen left behind when he passed away earlier this year will work well with the true followers of the fashion world. Also, the emotional aspect of the story will capture the casual reader as well by mildly pulling on a heart string. Nothing sells better than a dead celebrity.

How-to articles are incredibly popular. I would probably put this article on the cover of the magazine, possibly in an issue devoted entirely to being ecological. A 21-day challenge will entice those who strive to be more ecological, and those who have less of an interest in the subject may read the article just to see what “challenges” the article presents to readers.

This article would work perfectly in an autumn issue for the “Living” section of the magazine. Tasty treats for the fall months appeal to readers’ taste buds, and luscious photographs make for a visually attractive page. Food and drink is a must for a magazine, adding a little spice that varies from the fashion pages.

A “Women in Power List” would definitely appeal to readers of the magazine, especially since the target audience is described as “chic, smart, and independent.” The women in the list would embody the target reader, providing the reader with someone well-known who they can relate to, making them feel confident. A feature piece that makes celebrities lives seem more real and down-to-earth will attract many readers from all walks of life. This would probably make the cover as well.

Rolling Stone

My publication of choice is easy - Rolling Stone.
What other magazine focuses on the in's and out's of the music industry, highlighting mainstream and indie alike, while also offering coverage on television, movies, politics and current events?
Unlike newspapers though, which strive to be unbiased, Rolling Stone is rather liberal - and it shows in their choice of articles. Obama has been featured on the front cover upwards of 5 times in the last couple of years.
Just this last month there was an extensive article tearing apart the Tea Party.

The target audience for Rolling Stone is tricky, since you have long time subscribers and new fans both expecting different things. In recent years, RS has become increasing political. Likewise, the rise of the television super powers has put an increased demand on reality shows, like American Idol.

If you write too much about music, then they have eliminated 50% of their audience. However, if music isn't the central point, they've lost the long time subscribers.

Additionally, the type of music covered gets hazy. Music magazines like Alternative Press have a niche - they write about less mainstream/punk rock/emo music. There is only a couple pages in the whole issue dedicated to movies and tv.

Here are five articles I would pick to appeal to my audience, assuming I'm in charge of RS.

(1) The Case for Obama, by Tim Dickinson (Rollingstone)
I really enjoyed this article in the last issue. It's very well written and insightful, and shows the power RS has in the magazine community - the interview was conducted in the Oval Office. Yes, it is a music magazine, but I think this story is important in hearing from Obama's mouth what he sees to be the issues.

(2) Good Charlotte album review (Spin) 

I greatly enjoy Spin's album reviews. Most magazines publish these really stretched out, super long reviews. Spin's are always short, punchy and straight to the point.


(3) 40 Watt Venue profile (Red & Black)

This article by Adam Carlson is amazing - it truly paints a portrait of the importance of the 40 watt to the music scene, as well as showing how long its been here and the culture behind it all. I would love to see a series of venue profiles in RS.

(4) Music Notes (Red & Black) -
I really like what this has brought to the R&B the last two weeks. Athens is a culture of music, and Music Notes by Chris Miller highlights every show coming up, and feature small profiles on lesser known bands. I think RS would benefit from running in their issues what bands are going on tour and when.

(5) Portugal. The Man profile 
My favorite part of music magazines are their band/artist profiles. I don't just want to know who is playing Saturday - I want to know the little things about them. I felt this article shined a light into how Portugal.The Man escalated from just a bnuch of kids in a music starved rural Alaskan town.

Mi photo favorito

Seduction comes in many forms — it just so happens that all of my favorite pictures involved Michelle looking longingly into the distance. In this particular photo, she was looking at me. (Coincidence, I assure you.)

I like this photo because it's up close and personal, and shows magnitudes about her personality and love for the color purple/pink.

The colors were heightened just a tad with Photoshop, and there wasn't really too much I could crop. Unfortunately, it gets a little hazy and out of focus when blown up bigger. But at this size — utter perfection.

Plus, I think we can all agree she'd make an excellent van saleswoman.

Favorite photo

I liked this picture because I've always been partial to closeups. It's got some nice contrast and the way the chain is lying looks very organic, because it was. I was happy that the camera focused on the picture and not the front of the locket.

Shawn is in Love

The reason I chose this photo is that it demonstrates the angst and frustration that Shawn feels. He, unfortunately, fallen in love with a stair well. He knows in his heart that they can never be together because society will never accept their love. He realizes their life together......I'm kidding it just looks awesome because he is kicking a stair well.

Photoshopping

This is the favorite photo that I took. I like it because the only clear person in the foreground is ZT. I think it says something metaphorical about youth, beauty and charisma. Allie being in the background is an added bonus, plus I like the scale of colors made sharp by Photoshop.

I like scale in the photo, too, and the levels of the picture are great. Go me, Shawn. Thank you for taking such a great photo of your classmate. I'm sure he appreciates it. A lot.

My Favorite Photograph

I think the photo was well composed, and Patrick was framed within the concrete walls. The background was not too busy due to his placement in front of the bushes. I think it was a simple photograph, but definitely showed a sense of space.

Photo project

Out of the myriad of exceptional photographs I took for this project it was difficult to decide which one was my favorite. I hope you sense the sarcasm. This project was by far my favorite (though the audio editing comes in a close second). My not-so-long-shotish long shot was my favorite. First of all, who can deny the beauty of true love captured in a photo? Secondly, I liked the different textures represented in the photo (the mulch, the wall, the tree, etc). Overall, I thought the photo told a story.

My favorite photo from project

I think the portrait of Natalee is my favorite photo I took. I usually prefer close-ups, but had some issues with zoom on the cameras we used. Here is a copy of the photo. I like that what I tried to capture worked. I like that she was doing something and not posed, that the lighting was neither over exposed or too dark and I like that you can see more about what she is doing in her reflection than in the photo of her in front.



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Favorite Photo

This is my favorite photo that I took of Brianna Gerdeman, because it is the most unique and detailed. It provides an interesting perspective on Brianna in that we only see her hands and belongings. Even though this picture focuses in on one small aspect of Brianna, I feel like it tells a story better than my shots from far away. It's clear that Brianna is packing up and moving on. One can also assume that she has a busy day ahead of her, because her bag is stuffed full of books and papers. We also learn that newspapers are important to Brianna, because she's sliding one into her backpack keep rather than discarding it when she's through. Although this photo sets up a detailed moment, I also like that it leaves people with questions about the larger story and hopefully leaves them wanting more.

This portrait is my favorite photo of Katie. I like the way she is pictured in the last third of the photograph, making for a more interesting design element than if she were in the middle. I love the background color, and the neutral grey and white in her apparel is a good complement for the deep eggplant. I also like how the emotion on her face is almost a half smile, half serious, and the way you can see her profile, while still seeing a little bit of the other side of her face. Maybe it's because I'm not a huge fan of my own profile, but I really dislike profile pictures when all you can see is one side of the person’s face. The photo is simple and natural, which I believe are a few of the most important elements in a photograph.

I think this medium shot of Katelyn is my favorite. I used it as my long shot, but I think it might be more of a medium shot since I didn't get much of the environment into the picture. Regardless, I think the background is pretty and I like that it shows Katelyn reading a magazine since she is majoring in magazines and is so involved with magazines at UGA. I also like the coffee thermos beside her - it adds more information about her personality, as if she is someone who is always on the go. If I could change anything about this shot, I would probably take it a little closer so that it would be a true medium shot, and I would try to get more of the magazine cover in the picture. I would probably try to take it from a different angle too, so I would get more of her face in the picture.

Favorite Photo

I find this photo to be the best of the bunch, but not just because it is a nice-looking picture--it tells a story.

I like how Chris is off-set to the right in the photo. I like how the WNEG's red seems a little pink against Chris's pink shirt. I like the look on his face as he glances over his shoulder at the empty studio.

Really though, it is my favorite photo because before and after I took this photo, Chris was pelting me with questions.

"Is this a studio that UGA students can use?"

"Can you intern there?"

"Can you be on TV?"

"This place is so cool."

His awe of the University made my day and made this photograph what it was. If I could change anything, I'd sharpen up the photo, maybe crop just a little bit from the right. Maybe adjust the colors. But really, I like it.

Favorite Photos

There were two photos I took of Grace Morris that I really liked -- the portrait and the medium shot. I chose this one, the portrait, as my favorite because I like the composition. I think the stairs serve as an interesting background but are not so busy to distract from Grace, the subject of the photo. I also like the lighting, which is not too bright so it doesn't cause harsh shadows, and I like that Grace chose to look away from the camera.

Natalee's Favorite Photo

It was tough deciding which photo I liked the best. I was torn between my long shot with Allie sitting on the bench and this one. I decided to go with this picture because it's a great expression of Allie's personality. I would like the focus on Allie's face and hood to be sharper but alas, I could not control the quality of the camera I was given. I like how this is a close-up of Allie but instead of being zoomed in on a smaller detail of her, you get to see part of her facial expression along with her oh-so cute hoodie.

News Photos

This photo was taken after Hurricane Katrina, showing New Orleans' Garden District being taken over by arson and looting. Although it's not a happy event, I think the photo is visually compelling. The trees on either side frame the picture, and the reflection in the water magnifies the impact of the event. The stark contrast of colors makes it grab the audience's attention.


This picture came from a New York Times science article about a group of researchers who are trying to teach a computer to teach itself and learn in a way similar to the way people learn. I think this photo is a great example of how to take a story that at first seems visually uninteresting -- scientists in a lab working on a computer -- and finding a clever and exciting photo opportunity.

This photo, showing a man falling from the World Trade Center after the September 11 terrorist attacks, is tragic and shocking. But I think the fact that it's so unsettling adds to its visual power to show the horror of the event. I think this photo is also very well composed in that it has a simple, uncluttered background, unlike many disaster photos, which are chaotic and visually cluttered.

Photojournalism

This picture showed up today on BBC news (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news) and I thought it was a very interesting shot. I really like the intense action that's shown here. The picture certain helps to tell the story. I also like the composition; I think taking the picture straight on like that gives it an interesting symmetry.





I pulled this photo from Nationalgeographic.com . I love the way that the shallow depth of field pulls you into her eye, but I can't help but think that there is no reason for this image to be in black and white. I think it would have been more powerful in full color.





I actually chose this photo because I really hated it. It was featured on cnn.com today for a story about Verizon. The composition is interesting enough but the picture really doesn't further the story at all or give you any sort of information.

Picture Picture Picture

Along with the celebratory A.J. Green photo below, this photo resembles the other half of the emotional spectrum of Saturday night's loss to Colorado. There's a lot of talk circulating around campus about the future of Mark Richt's job with the Georgia football program, and ever more talk about the repeated arrests of the players. How does the University feel about the program's troubles on and off the field? Instead of reading the numerous articles by The Red & Black, The Athens Banner Herald, The Atlanta Journal Constitution, etc. just take a long look at the photo above. One man, all by himself, visually expressing "F-You." I really like the fact that the man is slightly to the right, with more space given to the left. Since his expression is facing towards the left, it has good direction to it — your eyes scan the picture and see every expression. 


Feeling slightly sick to your stomach? Fret not, this is simply a press photo that I received to run with my Netherworld review in today's Red & Black paper. I really like this photo because it serves multiple purposes. You'd never opt to look at a photo that involves bare intestines, blood and guts. However, if you're searching around on Google for a haunted house and find this photo, chances are you'll feel slightly more inclined to drop the $27 it requires to tour both houses at Netherworld. This photo represents more than just an opportunity to gross out a few people — it could be the make it or break it representation of Netherworld. 

This picture, which would have made a magnificent centerpiece photo for today's Red & Black newspaper (had we actually won), was instead tucked away on the inside pages. In my opinion, this photo has it all — for people outside of the University, the notion of a celebration for whoever #8 is extremely apparent. However, for students, this picture stands as a visual representation of our entire football season thus far. We yearned for A.J. Green. And when we put him in? One of the best touchdown passes all year. With the out of focus background, which blurs to a mess of blanks faces and random blots of color, I think the photo stands more crisp than ever. I genuinely love this photo because of all genuine emotion supporting it. 

Photos

This ones pretty horrific. During a civil rights demonstration the guy holding the flag is trying to stab a black lawyer. The shot shows the chaos, violence, and ignorant hate that was prevalent during this time.

http://www.listzblog.com/top_fifty_award_winning_photos_list_page_2.html













Alright, so this is one of the most famous photo's taken of the Vietnam War. It's composition demonstrates, the brutality, the uncaring concern with human life, and the pain and suffering of the countries citizens. The phot was taken at the instant the execution shot was fired. The most amazing thing about the photo, however is that this was never the intent of the photographer. Eddie Adams, the man who took the picture regretted it died. The picture shines a negative light on the man who is doing the shooting, when, in fact, this man was actually the chief of police in South Vietnam. The man being executed was in charge of a Viet Cong death squad responsible for the murder of many men, women and children.

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/news_cut/archive/2009/05/one_war_one_image.shtml













Ok, This picture is amazing and for more than just the obvious reasons. Primarily the contrasting colors of the background, her dress, her skin, the test, it all works to make a stricklyingly awesome photo. I also chose the photo because of the controversy surrounding it. This photo is supposed to be of the "Hottest Woman in the World according to other Women." However, it has been reported that it was photo shopped. There is something to be said about the "hottest woman in the world" needing Photoshop.
http://thebosh.com/bfu.php?image_url=http://thebosh.com/upload/2010/04/26/christina_hendricks_esquire_may_2010/Christina%20Hendricks%20Esquire%20Cover.jpg

Photos

We viewed this image this morning in my Photojournalism class. I love this image because it demonstrates a photojournalist
that is clearly dedicated to his photojournalism job. Before you point out the photographer's stupidity of standing straight in front of Tiger as he was about to hit the ball, realize: the golf ball was not supposed to go straight towards the photographer. According to the caption under the photograph, Tiger hit the ground before he did the ball, sending the golf ball sailing towards photographer, Mark Pain. Despite his last name, Pain showed no pain as he was hit in the chest with a golf ball. That is why this photograph impresses me. Instead of yelling an obscenity and attempting to get out of the way, he continued shooting. He gets an A+ for dedication. Not to mention, the onlookers faces are priceless.



It would be hard to say that I like this photo, because I don't like the situation that made this photo possible, 9/11. However, this photo was taken by the famous war photographer, James Nachtwey. What I do like about this picture is how he framed the flag with the broken window pane, surrounded by all the rubble and destruction of the twin towers. It seems that Nachtwey is demonstrating through this photo that America will triumph through the tragedy, and for that, I admire this photo and the photographer.



This photo taken by Kevin Carter won the Pulitzer prize in 1994. I really, really, really don't like this photo. It's sickening to think that there are children that live in these conditions. I do think that this is good photojournalism, though. It tells a story -- and it has an impact. Running this photo in newspapers, magazines, and all over the Internet could encourage those people that see it to do more to help these children.

PhOtOs

This photo comes from huffingtonpost.com.
It accompanies an article focusing on how corporations have posted near record profits after slashing jobs, leaving many unemployed. I like this photo because it's a great medium shot focusing on the man in the middle who seems deep in thought amidst a group of people. The photo really pulls you in and generates interest in what the corresponding article is about.







Compliments of celebrity gossip blog site thesuperficial.com. Pictured is Bret Michaels on the cover of Billboard magazine. I do not like this photo because it's a nude picture of Bret Michaels with very little left to the imagination. The photo quality and composition, in and of itself, I do like but shame on the photographer for using his/her talents to produce this!












Pictured is Jon Stewart, host of the Comedy Central television show The Daily Show. This article discusses his show and his rise to the "Most trusted name in fake news." I pulled this picture from npr.org. I like this photo because it's a nice, clean profile shot of Stewart with bold accents of blue and red in the background. Stewart's pose in the photo also does a great job reflecting his personality.

Some top contributions to photojournalism

Aside from the gut-wrenching rhetorical impact of this photograph of a starving Sudanese child, it also represents the story of a photojournalist who buckled under the pressure of journalistic ethics. South African photojournalist Kevin Carter committed suicide 14 months after he took this award-winning photo. Carter often talked about being haunted by the image of the child in the picture. Though this specific instance is not the only thing to blame for Carter's suicide, he did write in his journal about how much it affected him. Journalists are and will be inevitably faced with the decision to be, as this site puts it, "a savior or a witness." It's something to think about. As journalists, it seems most of us would like to have the chance to travel to places like these, but the tougher the environment we report in, the tougher the decisions become. It leaves me asking whether or not it would better to save the child or risk the child's life to open the eyes of millions to the reality of the millions of other starving babies in places like these. Regardless, this is reality.

This one is a little closer to home. Last Christmas break I had the opportunity to travel as a blog-writer to Guatemala for 10 days. There I gained experience reporting what I saw there. I got to experience what it's like being in another country, struggling to find ways to keep interested people up-dated. I got to spend a few days with this little girl.

And to lighten the mood a little bit, this cutie pie and its photographer Tess Sager helped make this photograph photo of the day July 19, 2010 on National Geographic's web site.

Photos

This first image captures a rare Morelet tree frog refusing to submit to a cat-eyed snake. David Maitland shot the photo in the late hours of the night in a Belizean rain forest. His work earned him recognition from National Geographic as 2008 Wildlife Photographer of the Year. The photo is spectacular because its close up approach highlights the action occurring between the subjects. The lighting also adds excellent illustration to the image. The black background shows that it is the heart of night as well allowing for the animals’ bright colors to stand out.

The second picture was a 2002 Pulitzer Prize winner by New York Times photographer Chang W. Lee. Chang captured a Buzkashy race to capture a small cow in Kabul, Afghanistan. The action shot demonstrates violence and sport used to grab the reader’s attention. The wild event also presents a cultural barrier that exists between the Middle East and Western Civilization. The picture grabs the attention of the reader, because it is a peculiar site that an American reader would not recognize, but find intriguing.

The final image comes from a local publication, Bulldawg Illustrated. The photographer shoots a picture of Georgia wide receiver AJ Green making a spectacular catch. The photo has elements of aesthetics focusing on the incredible athleticism displayed by Green. In addition, the photo also captures the emotion of the spectators in the background, who all have their mouths in awe at the result of the play.

Photo Posting Blog! AHHHH!

There's something about a baby being strapped to a pile of towels that just doesn't sit right with me. I realize that it's cute to strap babies to things, but honestly, the contrast here is just not something I'm into. The soft pink of the baby, the softness of the towels, the cinching strap that's hopefully not actually cinched behind and out of the shot. I can say that, while it reeks of cute, the subtext makes me uncomfortable. I hate this picture.

I would love this photograph, but the lighting seems off. Not dark enough for me. But, I must say, I am extremely tickled by what I see here. This seems a legitimate vision of hell, not forced at all. The landscape is beautifully utilized, and the feminine presence is contrasted terrifically with its back to the masculine, death figure. I don't know, everything just seems to work for me... except for the lighting. Maybe a filter should have been used? What do you guys think? 'Tis the season, right?

I wasn't around when this photo was taken, but I can't forget the story of Kent State. I love this photograph because of all that it captures. The human emotion here is absolutely raw. Whoever took this picture helped to chronicle this massive tragedy, and coming from a campus environment myself, I find the photo even more chilling. If tensions rise even higher in the middle east, which I'm sure they will, who knows what could happen in the name of protesting?