ModCloth as a Hybrid Website

One of the websites that I often frequent is ModCloth, which is mainly an online clothing store but is also so much more. The site was created by CMU alums as a way to sell their favorite vintage clothing online, but has since also developed into a social networking site, a blog, and a photo sharing site. The site describes their blog by saying, "The ModCloth Blog is a lovingly curated blog filled with the best and brightest of fashion and culture. We cover trends and style icons, hook you up with the coolest new music and media, divulge cooking tips and DIY tricks, and spark relevant conversations about feminism and the fashion industry". The blog also has a section devoted to what it's like to work at ModCloth, allowing the site viewer to go inside the creation of the site. On the Style Exchange page, viewers are able to submit photos of themselves in their favorite outfits. ModCloth also has a Twitter account, which it streams on its main website. By providing platforms for viewer feedback, ModCloth has ensured that the viewers will visit the site more than they would if it were just a clothing store.

South Oakland Housing Sources

For our group project, my team and I are researching the potential expansion of student housing (such as the new Bouquet Gardens buildings) and the ups and downs of off-campus living in South Oakland. The first source that I found was the most obvious, the Off-Campus Living page of Pitt's website. This source includes a renter's guide, roommate and subletting service, and even a landlord survey. Next, I chose the blog that we discussed in class, LandorSlum. This site lets students rate and discuss their landlords in a format similar to RateMyProfessor. My most informative, relevant sources so far were this video that I found a few years back in the WTAE news archives, which describes Pitt's crackdown on slum lords in South Oakland, and this video, which describes the mayor's effort to "spruce up" Oakland.

On Credibility

Obviously wikipedia is the first site that comes to my mind when thinking about credibility. I've been told for year by teachers in both high school and college that this is not a credible source, and though it is a very accessible and convenient platform, I guess I have to agree. The fact that any person can submit information on a subject means it doesnt always come from an accurate source, and even the corrections to articles come from readers.

The Huffington Post is another non-credible source. It has been criticized on numerous occasions by other websites and news sources because of it's extremely liberal views on issues. This is a different type of non-credibility, because it's almost as if the information can't always be credible because it would go against the beliefs and views that The Huffington Post itself has. They frequently have articles written by alternative medicine activists, which obviously means that their views are not always the accepted truths of science and medicine authorities.

Introduction

I've been a journalism major since the beginning of my freshman year, and I've always known that I want to go into an editorial career. The pivotal moment in my decision of where to go to college was actually when I realized that Pitt offered courses in magazine journalism, because until that point I didn't think I would be able to find the types of classes that I would need at this school. When I say that I've been "stalking" this magazine writing course since day one, I'm not exaggerating.

I'm taking this course not only to improve my writing, but also to learn all that I can about the magazine industry in such a changing age. I was very surprised during the first class to see how digital all of our assignments will be, but if that's what it takes to work in the magazine business today, I need to adapt to it. I hope mainly to learn how to write most effectively for a magazine audience, but also the ins and outs of things like online affiliate magazines, recent changes in publishing, and about editing. I'm particularly interested in music, so I hope I'll be able to write some concert or album reviews as well.

My favorite nonfiction writer has always been Hunter S. Thompson. I know this is a standard response, but I am constantly inspired by his creativity and the depth of his writing. I hope to be able to capture the strange, unexplored parts of my subjects the way Thompson does, and I find it fascinating that he is able to embellish his stories without compromising their accuracy.

Another one of my favorites is Gay Talese, though I'm much less familiar with him. We read "Frank Sinatra Has A Cold" for my Nonfiction class last semester, and it was one of my favorite pieces of nonfiction that I've ever come across. The way he takes such inspirational, high-profile figures and turns them into real people is so unique and admirable. When I'm interviewing people for articles, I constantly try to think of the types of questions that Talese would ask.