Magazine Interview Questions- Blog # 38

 

Welcome Back!

In this blog, I will be presenting the questions I asked my subject, Luciana Toscano, to create my feature story. I will be using these questions to try to find an angle for my feature story.

1. How do you think fashion trends have changed over time?

2. Is there a general quote you would like to make about fashion over time?

3. How old are you and what are you studying?

4. Tell me about your childhood? How was fashion relevant at that time?

5. What recent fashion trends do you agree with?

6. What past fashion trends do you agree with?

7. How did you figure out the style you have now?

8. What process did you have to go through to decide on a fashion trend or style that fits you best?

9. Did you use any celebrity styles or outfits as inspiration?

10. What or who inspired your search for finding your “best look”?

 11. How do you define a fashion icon? 

12. What do you think is the criterion for becoming a fashion icon?

13. What is your opinion on fashion in general?

14. What purpose do you think fashion should have in contrast with the purpose it has now?

15. What part do you think fashion has played in your life?

16. What part do you think fashion has played in your life?

17. What inspired you to continue pursuing fashion?

* Graphic made on Canva

Till next time!

Feature Story Practice - Blog #37

 

Welcome Back!

This blog is to show a Feature Story Practice assignment we did in class. Based off of my Production Calendar a few blogs back, we did a student interview assignment. We had 5 minutes to come up with 10 questions that would lead to us creating a story with the information we got, so they had to be really good questions. We were partnered up with a person we didn’t know much of so the practice could simulate a real interview, and we had the rest of the class time to ask and gather information for our feature story. This practice is to prepare us for when we have to do our actual interviews to create a feature story for our 4-page magazine. 

This is the feature story I created: 

Subject: Isaac L.

“I'd rather be pissed on than pissed off”. Isaac L., an artist and a Cambridge student, mentioned that this quote has had a very significant part in his life. He heard it one day in his environmental class, taught by Mr.Enriquez, and he has clung onto it ever since. At first mention, this quote would seem to ignite some sort of comedic response, however Isaac has made it a motto for his life. “ Anytime I’m mad I think about that quote and I think, why am I so mad? It motivates me to constructively channel that anger into something positive”. That is who Isaac is, someone who wants to constantly become a better version of himself. He surrounds himself with friends who challenge him so he can look at their progress and think “ maybe I should try harder”. When asked, “ who is your inspiration?”, Isaac responds with “Beyoncé” and then laughs. This is because Beyoncé is such a staple in his childhood growing up, reminiscing on it gives him back that joy he had when he was a child. “ My mom was a big Beyoncé fan, she has been such a big part of my life, I was always surrounded by her music”. Isaac mentions Beyonce’s work ethic and determination has influenced his character in such a big way. Like her, he is motivated to work hard to do what he dreams of doing. “ I see myself becoming a psychiatrist, being able to help people through their emotions and feelings is really important to me, I feel like that is a lot more needed nowadays”. Issac believes that his biggest purpose in life is to help people, whether it’s in a realistic sense, psychiatry, or in a dream job sense, an influencer. “ It's not the money aspect, it’s how influencers can create such a big sense of community, how they could make people so happy in life”. Isaac just wants to make people happy, he wants to be in a job that will help influence people. However, as much as Isaac wants other people to be happy, he wants to be that happy as well. “ In a dream job sense, I want to be an influencer. The acknowledgement they get, people see them, I want to be seen”. One of Issac’s New Year’s resolutions is to be more accomplished. “ I haven’t felt accomplished in a long time, I want to be more active, eat healthier, get things done on time, I just want to be happy.” On the outside, Isaac seems like a very standoffish type of person. In reality, people who know him, know all he wants to do is to help other people and be happy. 

*Graphic created on Canva

Till next time!

Practice Interview- Blog # 36

Welcome Back!

In this blog, I will reveal what Issac answered and some follow-up questions I added along the way. 

1. Who is your inspiration?

• “Beyoncé, how she works hard to do the things she does. As well as her lifestyle, to want better. She has so much because she worked for it. My mom is a big Beyoncé fan, so I was very exposed to her music in my childhood. I can relate to her, being a black personality, the same race, the same community and seeing her achieve so much. It motivates me.”

2. What motivates you?

• “Multiple aspects of life, beauty in it, to keep going, just live life.”

3. What profession do you see yourself pursuing after high school?

• “A psychiatrist, to understand emotions and feelings.”

4. What is your dream job? 

• “ An influencer, to be seen and to be acknowledged, not really money but how they have an effect in other people. Bringing joy and making other lives better.” 

Why?

• “ I enjoy watching a lot of influencers that look like me, like Corey Cench, he has a great personality and such a great sense of community. His funny personality also makes me want to listen to him.” 

5. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

• “A good stable job, happy, any form, whether alone or with somebody. Having support from my family. People I trust, friends, doing what I like, in the same place.” 

With the same job?

• “Yes, in the same place, a psychiatrist.”

6. When did you last feel accomplished?

• “ I haven’t felt that truly accomplished in a long while. I haven’t set out to do what I want to do. Like eating healthy, I haven’t stuck to it, I haven’t finished stuff, I haven’t felt accomplished in a long time and I want to fix that.”

7. What specifically do you want to do differently to feel more accomplished?

• “I want to eat healthier, be more outgoing, just do more. I want to be who I want to be. I’ve been struggling with self confidence, I can be outgoing, personality wise, but im never truly happy with who I am.”

  8. Why are you in Cambridge?

• “ I never had a clear understanding of the school system until last year. Last year is when I truly understood the opportunities presented in front of me that Cambridge gave me. Of course I understand that even if I wasn’t in Cambridge, I would still have the same opportunities if I work for them, but knowing Cambridge could give me more options in life, I’ll take them no matter how draining.”

Did you choose to go into Cambridge or did your mom just place you in it?

• “ My mom asked me if I wanted to join and I said yes, but I really didn’t know what I was getting into.”

Do you think you have a chance of getting the Bright futures scholarship?

• “I don’t think I would sustain everything I need to get it this year, but next year yes. It’s always going to be a 50/50 chance.”

Do the people around you help you in Cambridge?   

• “ My friends do. I see people around me doing better than I am and that motivates me to do more.”

9. Is there a quote that you have made a motto for in your life? 

- “ When I am down about life, I think about a quote I heard from my environmental teacher, Mr. Enriquez. ‘I rather be pissed on, then pissed off.”

10. What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

• “ I enjoy artistic hobbies like, gardening, painting, art, listening to music and reading.”

Do you do any sports?

• “No sports, I just naturally don’t have the body fit for it. That’s actually why I want to eat healthier. I have to walk occasionally, I can’t just sit down, I need movement.” 

What do you think about people who do sports?

• “I envy/ admire people who do sports, I wouldn’t wish to do it. However, their determination, discipline, and time and effort that they put to their craft is admiring.”

11. Where are you from, how does that affect your life, personality, characteristics, etc?

• “ I am from the suburbs of Miami but that doesn’t impact me personally. I am the youngest so I didn’t really have anyone my age to talk to growing up and I never hung out with people from school. This led to social media being such a great part of my life. It developed my love for influencers and YouTube. Being seen also became a very big part as well. doesn’t impact personally. My ok and sister were born here, but my dad was born in Haiti. Aside from the culture being brought from my dad, I became very westernized growing up.”

As you can see, I added the follow-up questions I asked Issac while performing the interview. In my next blog, you will see the feature story I created based off of the information I got from my sample interview. 

* Graphic made on Canva

Till next time!

Practice Interview Questions - Blog # 35

 Welcome Back!

This is a practice assignment we did in class where we come up with Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How questions to interview a classmate we aren’t familiar with. The questions below are the questions I asked Isaac Louissaint.

1. Who is your inspiration?
2. What motivates you?
3. What profession do you see yourself pursuing after high school?
4. What is your dream job? Why?
5. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
6. When did you last feel accomplished?
7. What specifically do you want to do differently to feel more accomplished?
8. Why are you in Cambridge?
9. Is there a quote that you have made a motto for in your life? 
10. What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
11. Where are you from, how does that effect your life, personality, characteristics, etc?

Aside from these questions, according to his answers, I did ask Isaac follow up questions to get more information for my sample feature story and I will showcase that in the next blog along with his responses. 

* Graphic made on Canva

Till next time!

Writing Leads Pt.3 - Blog #34

 

Welcome Back!

Finally, in this blog I will present the last lead I created in class.

Title: contrast and compare

Description: then and now, this and that

Example used: An armored truck was traveling down Orange Avenue during this morning's rush hour. The truck hit a particularly bad pothole, and the backdoor of the vehicle flew open. The truck contained approximately $20,000 in change the city had collected from is parking meters. The money fell to the pavement. Several bags burst open. Police halted traffic. City workers summoned to the scene used brooms to sweep up the coins, then shoveled them back into the truck. But, before the police and other city employees arrived at the scene, dozens of other motorists and bystanders stopped at the scene. Some offered to help. When city officials later counted the money retrieved by the workers, they found they had exactly $18,482.17. The remainder seems to have been stolen.

Lead: Robin-hood in the form of a pothole, took money from the city, and gave it back to its citizens.

 

 *Graphic created on Canva

That’s all for today!

Writing Leads Pt. 2 - Blog #33

 

Welcome Back!

This blog will present the second lead I created in class.

Title: startling 

 

Description: supposed to startle the reader into wanting to read more

Example used: There is a trend in dogs. People no longer like full-sized dogs. Big dogs—those over 40 pounds, especially5-year-old-and-up dogs—are about as much in demand these days as big cars. "About the only people who come in here and want to adopt a big dog are businesses or crime victims—after something has happened to them," says the Humane Society's director, Rika Brill. Even then, people tend to tire of the animal and return it to the shelter once their fear abates. Full-sized dogs, like Great Danes, Saint Bernards, Russian wolfhounds and German shepherds, are being unloaded for some of the same reasons: cost and space. The cost of owning a big dog averages about $500 a year—just for the bare essentials. Also, more and more apartment complexes are banning or restricting pets. Most limit the size of pets to no more than 15 or 20 pounds, and charge a refundable damage deposit—in many cases, several hundred dollars. Some charge a $250 non-refundable pet fee. Other apartment complexes charge a monthly fee of $10 to $20. So fewer people are willing to adopt a big dog. Also, people are turning big dogs in to the shelter at an alarming rate. Each year, the county's Humane Society takes in more than 20,000 homeless animals. Only 27 percent are adopted. Of the 27 percent fortunate enough to find new homes, fewer and fewer are large dogs. Which means they constitute the majority of the nearly 200 dogs and cats put to sleep each week at the Humane Society.

Lead: Dogs are getting fat-shamed and punished for their weight, something our furry friends have no control over.

 

*Graphic created on Canva

That’s all for today!

Writing Leads Pt.1 - Blog #32

 

Welcome Back!

Today I will be presenting the leads I wrote after learning and practicing them in class. My teacher majored in journaling and she told us about this exercise she would do in class to help her get better at writing leads. There would be a 5 minute timer and you would have to write a lead, no matter the type, on the specific story given. Everyone would present their leads and the three people who had the best leads would pass on to the next round. My teacher was in college when she did this so it was a lot more competitive but thats what she based our activity on. In class, she out up a storyline and gave us 5 minutes to write a lead on it. It could be a descriptive lead, a narrative lead, or even a startling lead. We could choose any, it just had to be done in under 5 minutes. The next three blogs will present the three leads I came up with. I can promise they won’t be the best leads you’ve ever read, but that’s why I’m still practicing. To make even better leads for my 4-page magazine.

Title: Twist

 

Description: sets the reader up for one mood and then twists it, surprises the reader

 

Example used: Someone called 18 people in the city last night. The caller identified himself as the president of Rutherford Ford, Inc., 2780 Doss Boulevard. He told each of the people that they had just won a new car from his dealership. Interviewed by reporters today, most of the people who received the calls said that at first they just couldn't believe it. And they were right. They couldn't. The person who called was a prankster, and Allen Rutherford, president of the dealership, says he has no idea who placed he calls, and that he's spending all his time today trying to explain the situation to those 18 people. "Someone apparently has a sick idea of humor," Rutherford said. After convincing people they had won a new car, the caller asked them to drop by the dealership this morning to pick it up. All 18 were there when the dealership opened its doors at 9 a.m. "I told them we never offered to give away a car," Rutherford said. "One woman told me she couldn't believe she'd won, and then she told me she couldn't believe it when I told her she hadn't. Two other women began to cry, and a man is threatening to sue me."

 

Lead: Allen Rutherford called 18 people last night, fulfilling their dreams with one phone call. The only problem was, Allen Rutherford, the president of Rutherford For, was asleep in his house on that alleged night.

 

*Graphic created on Canva

That’s all for today!

Survey Analysis Pt.2 - Blog #31

 

Welcome Back!

In my last blog I presented the questions I asked in my survey and their purpose. This blog, I will analyze the survey responses and it’s results and what they mean for my magazine. 

These results not only tell us that teenagers were more willing to take the survey, but that the small percentage of the adult range, 20-25, can be considered in the same equation as the teenagers column. This tells us that the age range most willing to fill out a fashion magazine will be the age range most willing to read a fashion magazine. This is only an assumption, however, that is why I added a specific question later on to answer it.

These results tell me the gender demographics will lean more towards attracting Females then males. A very small percentage are people who identify with something other than Female or Male so that demographic would be hard to apply, either way, it should be considered as neutral. 

Now, we can assume with the results before this question, that the 43.3% of people who said they were interested in reading a fashion magazine would be teenage females. This would push me to make my magazine stereotypically “girly” if the percentage was 50%- 70%. This is not the case so I have to make the magazine very neutral, gender wise. 

According to these results, the four most chosen feature stories are “which fashion trend fits me”, “recent fashion trends”, “which celebrities style matches my style”, and “10 steps to being a fashion icon”.  I will take these results and use them in my fashion magazine. This is because I want to appeal to the small sample of people who chose these four features by respecting their choice and trusting these will attract the audience I want.

My team and I all had our own opinions on which font we want for our magazine. For example, the font I wanted was Lovera because I thought it looked professional. However against my best wishes, the font with the most votes was Boston Angel. This only happened in my survey so my team chose to use London as our cover font.

Like I mentioned in the last blog, my team and I already had a preconceived idea of what title we wanted to choose. The title that most appealed to us, and also apparently to the people who took my survey, was “Eterna” which means timeless in Portuguese. According to the results of the survey, 50% of the 30 people who participated in the survey choose the title Eterna. This backs up the fact that our title is appealing to other people as well.

 

I want this magazine to be very bubbly and retro, I want teens to be instantly attracted to it. Therefore, color suggestions such as brown, black, red, gold, and white would not be the main colors of my magazine. These are too neutral for the magazine I am envisioning. The other results from the question above such as Lavender and Navy Blue are the color suggestions I will take into account. 

Again, against my best wishes, the color scheme with the most votes is the minimalistic color scheme. This scheme includes black, brown, and white. It’s for a more professional fashion magazine which is the complete opposite of what I want to create. Therefore, I will go against the vote majority and choose the retro color scheme. I believe it will appeal better to a teenage audience.

I pretty much predicted which choice would be most voted on because it the most satisfying choice. Allow me to elaborate, a full page and fully body pic magazine is a lot more appeasing to look at compared to a cover page with multiple pictures. This is especially true because this is a fashion magazine and the whole point is the fashion. Therefore, i will choose to use a full body photo for the cover of my magazine. 

I’m not going to pay too much attention to the results of this question because the bias is very high. The magazines I put as choices on my survey had very popular celebrities. Therefore, even though I did my best to eliminate bias by putting two magazines with women and two with men, I can’t get rid of the fact that people may or may not choose Vogue for example because it has Rihanna as the cover. So, I will choose to get inspiration from Vogue, not because of the results but because of my own personal judgement. 

Finally, I end off the survey the open ended question which barely had any answers except “ N/A” which means nothing. This shows me that my questions have covered all bases so I can start creating my fashion magazine. 

Overall, my fashion magazine got a max of 30 participants, this is enough to had a small sample audience to generate the results I need to start creating the template of my magazine. 

* Graphics all made in Canva

See you next time!

Survey Analysis Pt.1- Blog #30

 

Welcome Back!

In my last blog, I presented my survey and I posted my groups surveys as well. This blog will be about what specifically I put in my survey, why, and what it will provide for my 4-page magazine.

I started off with basic questions, these questions are important because they give me a foundation for the demographics. Even though this survey is meant for high schoolers, I still put a wide range of ages to add on to the validity of my survey. This wide age range is also because the magazine I am creating is based off of the older generation and the younger generation commenting on the transition of fashion.  I also added the gender question to establish a larger and more specific demographic. There is an option for “prefer not to say” to protect people’s privacy.

This question is to narrow the numbers down to the amount of interest fashion magazines attract and to take out the outliers . I allowed an option for “other”, to give room for opinions and improvement.

Most of my group worked on this part together, however one of my group members had a bigger part in figuring out the names. This consists mostly of her suggestions and she suggested translating it to different languages so it’ll sound unique and stylish, fit for a fashion magazine. My team and I did agree on one name, prior to the survey. I wanted to see how well it did within the range of 30+ people. 

The font is a very important part in our magazine, each of us chose different fonts so we could have a range of them to choose from and try out. I choose ones I’ve seen are closest looking to known Fashion Magazines such as Vogue. The fonts I chose are either very fancy but thin or thick and bubbly. Overall, they look very professional but also something that would attract a teen audience. 

Each of my team members chose and created different topics and feature stories we thought teens would be attracted to see in a Fashion magazine. The topics are very “teen life” or “teen magazine” because my magazine will be focused on the transition of teen fashion from the past to now. 

This question was added to allow input from outside sources so we can consider new color schemes and see what colors attract teens.

My team members each chose different 4 different color schemes. I chose a range of color chimes based off of sectional colors. This means I gave the option of a minimalistic color scheme and the option of a bubbly color scheme. This juxtaposition helps understand what people want to see in a fashion magazine. 

This question is to help decide how my cover for my fashion magazine should be presented. I gave two options, even though I prefer one already, because I wanted to see if it’s just my biased opinion. 

Finally, the last demographic question is to see what magazines we should based our magazines on. Each team member chose different magazines from the same 4 media brands, Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Elle, and GQ. I decided to showcase two woman on the front page of the two first magazine choices and two men on the front page of the last two magazine choices. This is to get level out gender bias and give my survey more validity. 

This last question and statement is to help close out my magazine survey and prevent any creative inspiration or ideas from being left out. I gave this question to allow space to comment or give any ideas that would help better my magazine. The statement was a used to close out my survey and to thank everyone who participated in the process of making my magazine. 

*Graphics done on Canva

See you in my next blog!