The Future of Journalism

Newspapers, magazines, Web, photo, video, graphics, slideshow, TV, advertising, multimedia, blogs. If you thought the world of communications was limited to print, TV and Web, think again.

 In an interesting series of discussion in my Online Journalism class (the class for which I created this blog about fashion at DePaul), we have pulled apart the different forms of media and what they mean to a journalism student contemplating her future career. The ultimate conclusion we have come to is this: to transition into today’s journalistic world, we better figure out how to combine two or more of those forms into one big package of talent.

 Many journalists today are doing more than one thing: photographers are taking video, reporters are making feature photo albums. A few weeks ago, we had a speaker named Chris Booker come to our class. His website is linked below. Booker refers to himself as a multimedia journalist, and has created kinds of journalism totally unlike what we are used to.

cgbooker.com

 Everyone has a different opinion about what journalism is becoming. Some people love the prospect of creating new projects; others value traditional print papers. What do you think? 

Favorite Sports

Note: Sports may seem a little unfitting to be on this blog, but I will stray from my normal topics for awhile to fulfill requirements for another class. This could be interesting!


Although it may not seem like it, I am actually quite a sports fan. I played lots of different sports in high school, and my favorites by far were soccer and cross-country. I still love to run (although my awkward knees and lots of physical therapy have practically ruined it for me!).

I love to watch soccer and especially baseball. Recently, though, I have been forced into loving to watch football, as I have a lot of friends on the University of Chicago team. I never watched it before (and still don't fully understand it) but I'm slowly starting to like it. (I hope those friends don't read this!)

My roommate bought me a Snuggie for Christmas this year. As soon as they come out in maroon (right now only sea-green, royal blue and (I think) purple are offered--I'm sorry I know that), I can't wait to show up to UofC football games in it! I'm sure that will be a big hit. (See, I knew I could incorporate great fashion into this post!)

Interview with a Student Fashionista II

I interviewed sophomore Anna Marie Pemberton about her classy sense of style:

How would you describe your style?

It is a little bit of everything, I have some expensive clothes but a lot of really cheap clothes. I really like to wear skirts and dresses. Not even to dress up, but because I like to look really feminine. I like feeling like a girl.

Where do you shop?

Urban outfitters and Forever 21 are big staples, but I am a big window-shopper, so if I see something I like I go in; so I end up shopping at lots of random places.

Has your style changed since high school?

No, I’ve always really liked to dress up. The biggest change is probably practical shoes, because we have to walk a lot at school.

Summer or winter clothes?

Summer, for sure. I like being able to throw things on and go out the door. In the summer it is easier to look put together without actually being put together.

Costume Design and Technology

Interview with a Costume Technology student at DePaul's Theater School




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jx7bbYDl5Ak

Photo Essay

Katrina Kopeck, a sophomore at DePaul, washes her 'colors load' at the Coin Laundromat Thursday. The laundromat is on Lincoln Avenue, not far from Kopeck's apartment, but far enough to warrant the use of a wheeled cart (foreground). The cart fell over only once during this trek, which Kopeck said is good.
Even with clean laundry, Kopeck finds it difficult to decide on an outfit to wear Friday evening. Kopeck was preparing for a date: dinner and a movie. When the decision was finally made, her bedroom floor was covered with rejected options.  Choosing her outfit put her behind schedule on getting ready, and she still had to prepare conversation topics for dinner!
Kopeck employed the help of friend and roommate Mary Nolan, also a sophomore, to style her hair. Here, Kopeck explains to Nolan what she would like done to her hair: straight, but with a little more volume. The girls' makeshift 'salon' is the bathroom of their apartment, located on Lincoln Avenue.The sink in Kopeck's bathroom is littered with the supplies she and roommate Nolan are using to get her date-ready. Make-up, various brushes and Ben and Jerry's ice cream. Kopeck said the ice cream was essential to calming her nerves, the make-up and brushes only secondary.
Outfit chosen and hair styled, Kopeck adds a scarf from Anthropologie, her favorite place to shop, and  leaves her apartment for her date Friday night. She was meeting her date at the AMC Theater on East Illinois Avenue downtown. The two saw "Grand Torino," Clint Eastwood's latest movie. 

Sale!!

                                               

Although it seems crazy to shop in (economic) times like these, and for winter clothes (when winter is half over) nonetheless, I assure you, it is not. All the stores have great deals right now, and if you're looking for a great place to shop, here's a quick guide:

Art Effect, on West Armitage Avenue, a store usually on the pricier end, is advertising a 70-percent-off sale. 

Mint Julep, at 1013 Armitage Ave., consistently stocks their store with half designer pieces and half bargain clothing. The deal there: 50 percent off any already-marked-down items. 

Department stores! John Delacruz, the visual merchandiser at H&M Clothing Store on Michigan Avenue, had this frugal tip: "Go to any department store, like Barneys. They have to get rid of all their winter stuff, so their sales are huge." Another idea: go to a department store and try things on for size. Then go home, and type the item into EBay--most likely, it will have exactly what you are looking for. 

H&M: Buy one/ get one FREE on winter coats. (This is only for a limited time but they continue a similar deal for longer.)

 

Forever 21, now with a second location on Michigan Avenue; always cheap. 

(Look for an extended version of this article, and more tips, in the DePaulia next week!) 

Interview with a Student Fashionista

 I asked Stacie Wolf, a fashionable sophomore at DePaul, some questions about her style:

Who or what influences your style?

Stacie: I'm an art major, so I am particular on unique avante garde textures and structure. I love clinched waists. I love the late 40s look, I love New York; I love street fashion. I love ethereal and slightly sexy/romantic touches. 

Where are your favorite places to shop?

Stacie: SHOPBOP[.com], vintage stores, and Neiman’s, and H&M is awesome for well-priced, very trendy, quality pieces.

Has your style changed since coming to college/DePaul/Chicago?

Stacie: Yes, college and the city have influenced how I dress, not DePaul though. I was cut off from my parents for spending money on clothes, so I am now very much interested in investing into practical nice items rather then impulsive silly things. My roommates and friends also made an impact.

Flashbacks

A few weeks ago, I went to a ‘high school’ themed party. One of the party planners said they chose this theme because they had little time to plan and this theme “was easy for people.” This makes sense: I see a lot more high school gear being sported around campus than I do DePaul gear. Is it a trend, or just easier/cheaper? I’m willing to guess the latter (this excludes the sort-of-trendy fad of wearing “vintage” t-shirts from the Goodwill or Salvation Army that advertise high schools the wearer didn’t even attend). 

But the question is… is it acceptable? Of course we all do it, but by wearing our high school apparel, we’re holding onto memories that we say  we’d rather die than return too. Remember going to Applebees after basketball games on Friday nights? Remember sneaking out and drinking in friends’ basements? Remember prom?? These may be parts of our past that we don’t talk about, but our shirts and sweatshirts are screaming it.

  Although no picture is necessary this week—you can all go in your closets and multiple high school shirts, I’m sure—I decided to include the front side of a particularly ridiculous t-shirt my class had made for junior year basketball season:

Front: putting the nasty…

Back: back in dynasty.

(Note: we barely won a game, let alone created a dynasty. How terrifying.)