Thank You

I'm very happy with my final product and I fully enjoyed this process that has allowed me to grow and learn as an individual and a consumer of media
-Kelly Soluri
Ps you might have noticed but I managed to get both Yogiiza and Insecta on the phone or email for their interviews. Man, what a hustle.

Final Product

Here is the final product:
Cover:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BypNKQ0_z5lwZ1VVdnV3ejcwRGs/view?usp=sharing
Table of Contents:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BypNKQ0_z5lweWlaTlpVOUs1Uzg/view?usp=sharing
Double Page 1:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BypNKQ0_z5lwaXhmMEJMdGc4b2c/view?usp=sharing
Double Page 2:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BypNKQ0_z5lwZFpXUV9ZVEVuUXM/view?usp=sharing

Critical Reflection:
https://voicethread.com/share/7748264/

Yogiiza? More like Nogiiza.

Friggity frack paddy wack.
I went to visit Yogiiza at their high class "store" in Miami. I retrieve the address from the website. When we arrived to Miami Beach the entire road was blocked by construction. It was a real hassle to out maneuver the stressed "bros" and when we got to the address, it was a small trendy warehouse. I went inside only to realize that it was an upscale organic juicing shop. I mean, at least it was organic so at least I had a back up plan to my a million and one case scenarios but it wasn't Yogiiza. I asked an attractive employee about the store and he told me that they moved!! I emailed, I phoned, I prayed for Yogiiza and I only got a response this afternoon. Instead, I dined and reviewed a farm-to-table restaurant called Essencia to cover my story. I'll still have the interview by phone with Yogiiza but I wanted it to be in-person so I could get a more human experience on paper. So this is what I've got. I've got great pictures of Essencia and I'll review it like many lifestyle magazines do today. Done and done.

Yogiiza? more like Yesgiiza

I'm sorry about the joke on my headline. Maybe it's a little witty if you don't think too hard.
Anyway, today I got many tips from fellow pupils that could help me setting up my technology to format my magazine. Turns out I need to update my Microsoft Word so I have that to look forward to but besides that, from the Google Nik collection to Illustrator's 30 day free trial, I have all the tools and factors that I need. All that's left is to put action to my thoughts.
 Also, Yogiiza's very own Monica replied back to me today! I'm visiting the store today in Miami Beach to interview them, take pictures and check out the store. I might even check out a couple of green restaurants for dinner with my parents. the options are:

• Escopazzo: an Italian restaurant boasting an organic menu with vegan, vegetarian and raw options. It also has a wine cellar of over 170 wines so I'm betting this'll be my Mom's favorite.
• Metro Organic Bistro: a European bistro with a sustainable menu consisting of organic meat, wild caught fish and vegetarian (and probably vegan) options.
• Essensia: a restaurant within The Palms Hotel that serves guests right out of their garden.

All restaurants have gained a large amount of praise so I'm excited to try at least one out.

Plan B's Plan B

I have emailed Yogiiza about an interview. Since the project is due very soon and I may not get an answer back from the firms, I am making a backup plan to the other backup plan. On Tuesday, I plan to go to Yogiiza and do an opinion piece review on their store and products. I'd ask questions at the store. Along with other "green" firms that are nearby. I still think it's a solid piece.

Skeleton

I have decided on some crucial decisions on the formatting of the magazine.
For the cover, I'm using geo font and the a visual stamp of a bee for the logo. The color will be a hued honey yellow. I'm using this style for my brand because although it is an environmental magazine, it font alludes to a modern type written feel, sine most young people are internet-saavy I hope that this will be a good move. It is supposed to also symbolize the new trendy approach this magazine is taking to environmentalism. The other taglines and coverlines will be in a different font that I haven't decided yet but will be in black or white font depending on the cover photo.There will be a code bar on the lower right-hand corner like many magazines to make it seem realistic.
My table of contents will be a white page with small description and pictures of the main stories by the tagline. Titles will all have the same style as the logo and the rest below will not adhere to that rule.
More schematics will come with their own due explanations.

Crunch Time AYAYAY!

So I've contacted Insecta for an interview but I haven't heard back yet. I'd be pretty bummed if it didn't pan out like I wanted to but I think I should form a Plan B interview at this point. I researched a little of the green fashion brands that the 305 has to offer and I encountered a couple of articles. One of them lead me to Yogiiza, a sustainable fitness brand for yoga masterminded by Dawn Oliver and committed to keeping production local or domestic. I'll email Yogiiza after this post probably because although it is more high end with a lower chance of response for a homely student, it is local, which makes me hope that they'll have sympathy for a kid trying to make it in South Florida.
For the cover photo, I've still been deliberating on the image but it's crunch time and this week I'll have to stick to one or other images. I actually have been inspired by the magazines that I have been so prejudiced about, such as Cosmopolitan. In fact, the final idea of my magazine has morphed into a lifestyle magazine for ecologically conscious people seemingly by itself with its own life and audience. So for the cover photo, I've been latching on to the idea of a picture of my good-looking friends walking on the beach fashionably picking up trash. It could have been perfect if the project due date could have been extended one week because I'm probably attending the beach clean up they're having next week but no matter, I'll make do.

 


Combs, Tashina. Logical Harmony in Vegan Lifestyle Magazine – November Issue. Digital image. Logical Harmony. Logical Harmony, 28 Dec. 2013. Web. 2 Apr. 2016.

Cosmpolitan. "The Women's Magazine for Fashion, Sex Advice, Dating Tips, and Celebrity News." Cosmopolitan. Hearst Digital Media, n.d. Web. 02 Apr. 2016.

Finney, Lauren. "Where to Shop Sustainable Fashion in Miami." Where to Shop Sustainable Fashion in Miami. Ocean Drive, 14 Jan. 2014. Web. 02 Apr. 2016

Gloria Medias. Gloria Fashion and Lifestyle Magazine. Digital image. Gloria Medias. Gloria Medias, Jan. 2009. Web. 2 Apr. 2016.

Peterman, Mark. Cover photo for Prime Living magazine September 2009. Digital image. Photography Mark Peterman. Mark Peterman, 1 Sept. 2009. Web. 2 Apr. 2016.

Response to Comments

There are three people who critiqued my blog under one of my posts. I'd like to take this time to respond to them. 

Kayleigh, thanks for all the positive feedback and thought you put in your commentary! With colors, I don't want to go too crazy and make it seem artistic so I'm using natural colors and the format of a lifestyle magazine cover to bring in a broad audience. Hopefully, it gives you a clearer image.

Emi, I love the organized way you assessed your analysis, it was very helpful. My magazine WOULD look similar to a "stereotypical" magazine and that is how I'd bring in readers from all genres including those that aren't quite as familiar with being eco-friendly. I was inspired by Cosmopolitan Magazine which uses a basic structure geared toward a female audience. It uses simple lists, a main attractive female model, and the word sex bolded many times on the cover however within many articles can discuss topics such as over-sexualization of the female body (ironically), gender wage inequality and salary negotiation tips. 

Kim, thank you for the criticisms, it aided me by helping me reflect on my research.I feel that I am passionate about the environment and an adventure story would be wonderful like a vlog but on a magazine. I think that's a great idea and perhaps I'll find a way to incorporate it into my magazine as a cover line or something of the sort. 

Still in Brazil

In Brazil, I've discovered this cool ecological shoe company called Insecta. I think that'll appeal very much to my audience and also, I think it is so cool. I'd hoped they were located in Salvador but the stores where they sell are located in other cities in the US, Brazil and Switzerland. I think I'll email them to see if they'd be up for an online interview or answering a couple questions by email.  Also, their logo is so cute and actually quite similar to the style that I want my bee logo to be.
Here is their link- http://www.insectashoes.com/

I've decided to scrap the local style that I wanted to achieve and I'm going with news from all over regarding my content. It gives me a lot more ideas and content that'll be better for my audience, like Insecta. At most, the location change can be a reoccurring section.

I've also taken a bunch of photos and I'd like to share some:
 
 


Insecta. "Sapatos Veganos, Ecológicos, Feitos No Brasil - Insecta Shoes."Sapatos Veganos, Ecológicos, Feitos No Brasil - Insecta Shoes. Insecta, n.d. Web. 23 Mar. 2016.

Spring Break isn't a real break

For Spring Break, I am in Bahia. What strikes me most about my motherland is the abundance of mixtures. Everything is juxtaposed: black and white, rich and poor, urban and rural. There is a sense of order within the chaos of Brazil. In the U.S. everything is organized and functions, here not always, but that's okay. Also, I am sweating a lot, like a lot. Often, I have to take more than 2 showers a day because I am always sweating. The heat invokes a relaxed culture within this portion of my country. I am trying to capture this personality with the lens but often the image is difficult to capture. I've gotten a couple of shots but I don't know if it's any good.
For Miami, it also has a personality but I don't know how to put it on the paper because, for me, it's normal. As an American as well, I can see the differences between my culture in Brazil and I know what I can put in the magazine that can appeal to my audience as foreigners. With South Florida, I don't think I have an outsider's view and it's causing me doubt.
For my stories, ecotourism doesn't passion me, I mean it's fun but it's not something I could base my main story on. It bores me. It's a shame because maybe the people want to see it. If push comes to shove, ecotourism is my backup plan. I think at home, I will get a list of story topics and go around my school to survey which one people enjoy the most because I want to choose my topic well. With my other possible story, the Old Zoo at Crandon Gardens, it would show a representation of nature overtaking the urban environment which I think is a very beautiful visual. However as the content for a story, there isn't much to say, at most, it could be a photo gallery of the cool images. It's a cool concept but an essay of birds overrunning their ancestor's prisons is a little bit too far "out there" and ultimately not something people would read with their free time.

Branching Out

For spring break, I'm traveling to Brazil to see family. I plan on taking the opportunity to take photos for the "sneak peek" image if I need it. Unfortunately, I am not adept with the camera especially with my low-quality phone camera however thankfully a classmate, Issac, recommended an app called "Vsco" that would help me edit the quality of my images.
At the pod meetings, I gave ideas for a title for my magazine. Some that I proposed were Treehugger, The Green Journal, and the BusyBee. Santi, a member of the pod, proposed a single word title because it's catchier and he's not wrong. Bee Magazine was a title that all members of the pod agreed to and so for now, that will serve as the title for my magazine.
The cover of my magazine would be similar aesthetically to that of National Geographic, an artistic image to grab the audience's attention. To my dismay, research indicated that most popular magazines were Cosmo, GQ, Playboy and People. The type of magazine that I'd like to propose to the youth isn't what they want or what they're used to. How can I make environmentalism a form of modern escape? I've decided through compelling colorful images and beautiful photos. I have two main stories that I'm thinking of: the ecotourism scene in Miami and Crandon Gardens, an abandoned zoo overrun by tropical birds. I have already an image in mind for the ecotourism scene at the South Seas Hotel one of the few hotels in Miami that are registered as a Florida Green Hotel.

Get off of twitter, pick up your litter!

I've been researching green trends that would be a nice contribution for my magazine, which as of now, is still nameless.
I began by researching successful campaigns of the past such as the litter campaigns of the 70s. Out of most environmental crimes, 60% of American people would be most embarrassed about littering (according to a Living Green Pulse study) and that's a pretty successful feat. Continuous advertisement and education seemed to do the trick.

 City of Port Phillips decreased 50% of litter on their beaches. Nice job, Port Phillips!

Despite successful campaigns like the litter campaigns, millennials aren't as environmentally conscience as Baby Boomers are. This notion rattled my world. The media portrays otherwise and I'm a little more than duly disappointed. I mean, come on! Were those Bill Nye videos a waste?! It seems to me that a lot is being wasted. A study by the American Psychological Association found that Millenials were more likely to be focused on money, image and fame. This idea only fits with my original purpose for the magazine. So I mean, at least that's concrete. And now we know more about what grabs the attention of a youthful audience. The trends shown in 2015 were linked with health and image, such as the Whole Foods craze, Starbucks reusable cups, and cute plant-based packaging. Perhaps a good addition to the magazine are eco-friendly discounted products or restaurants in the South Florida area. 

One trend in particular, caught my attention: The "Ugly" Food Movement. I personally have had experience with this movement by working in a warehouse, repackaging damaged but usable products and produce donated by stores for a Costa Rican food bank. This movement champions fruits and veggies that are misshapen, bruised or imperfect to combat food waste. It has been extremely popular in Europe and Australia. 40% of food in the United States will be thrown away when 21% of Americans suffer from food insecurity. When food is thrown away, the hard work and input are also thrown away. It only rubs salt on the wound when California, which produces 50% of American produce and uses 80% of fresh water is in their worst drought in years and all for agriculture that'll be thrown out anyway. The 36 million tons of food that rot in countless landfills produces the equivalent of 3.3 billion tons of CO2 emissions. And I'm not done yet, $165 billion worth of meals are thrown away yearly solely by the American people when the economy remains a hotly debated issue on the presidential race and environmental sustainability is barely touched by some. The response to this madness is buying the produce that is usually thrown away due to its aesthetic faults. People want to buy the best food for their families but they judge a fruit by its peel as the look of it has nothing to do with its taste. In fact, "ugly" heirloom tomatoes are praised for their taste and colorful rainbow hues. In Florida, UglyRipe, an "ugly" food Florida business created by the Procacci brothers, had a legal dispute with the Florida Tomato Committee over their right to export their produce out of Florida. Although they eventually won that right and would be recompensated economically to provide incentive, many worried that it would tarnish the image of Florida produce, including ex-Florida governor Jeb Bush. However, it has stemmed (pun intended) to be an economically and ecologically sound trend with many of Miami's top restaurants choosing to go this route. Another idea for my issue is to interview one of the businesses or restaurants on their success with the "Ugly" Food Movement. Taste over Waste!

I see, you want your ladies with fine legs but not your carrots, for shame.

Brooks, Jennifer. "Food Waste, Poverty and the 'Ugly Food Movement'" The Blue Review. The Blue Review, 14 Apr. 2015. Web. 13 Mar. 2016.

Image- Intermarché. Intermarché's Inglorious Fruit & Vegetables campaign. Digital image. Fruit Net. Fruit Net, 31 Mar. 2015. Web. 13 Mar. 2016.

Kaye, Bea. "What Is The ‘Ugly Food Movement’? An Explainer." Uproxx. Uproxx, 1 Oct. 2015. Web. 13 Mar. 2016.

Rich, Sarah. "Does It Matter If Tomatoes Are Ugly? - Modern Farmer."Modern Farmer. Modern Farmer, 07 Aug. 2013. Web. 13 Mar. 2016.

Schiller, Ben. "Are Millennials The Greenest Generation? Maybe Not."Co.Exist. Co.Exist, 29 Apr. 2013. Web. 13 Mar. 2016.

Sloan, A. Elizabeth. "The Top Ten Food Trends April 2015, Volume 69, No.4." The Top Ten Food Trends. IFT, Apr. 2015. Web. 13 Mar. 2016.

Image- Studio Binocular. City of Port Phillip: Public Litter Campaign. Digital image.Studio Binocular. Studio Binocular, n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2016.

"Top Green Trends to Look out for in 2015 - Green Diary - Green Revolution Guide by Dr Prem." Green Diary Green Revolution Guide by Dr Prem. Green Diary, 12 Jan. 2015. Web. 13 Mar. 2016.

The Precedent and the Present

I researched other environmental magazines: The Environmentalist, National Geographic and The Ecologist. Their content is often scattered on many subtopics indicating that they are very diverse in their content. The news from all around the world was cluttered on the first page and their articles were meant for an intellectual audience.
I had this idea 5 minutes ago around 3:30am. See, I originally thought I'd get the best information by doing a local magazine. Sure, it wouldn't be internationally popular but my information, content and audience would be secure. What if I dedicated an issue to a location or town every issue? From sustainable art to private enterprise intrusions to environmental disasters, the issue would cover all aspects of environmentalism of that area. People love to learn about new places and by giving them a new place every issue, not only would it spread environmentalism but it would it would never run out of interesting stories. Snapchat did a similar ordeal to wild success. It was called Life and everyday people would be excited to see the new city being shown. However my only concern with this approach is that, from the point of view of an adult or perhaps someone working class, these may not be targeted towards them. People of lower income and adults are the people that are impacting the environment now and they are the ones that have the most difficulty with it. Environmentalism is seen as a 1st world problem. Why should people, who have to work to get food on the table, care about the environment? How can I claim that my magazine will offer accessibility if I am disregarding those who know or care the least? Though if I desire to be trendy, I suppose I was setting myself up for a young audience. Making a magazine for those in poverty is a pretty hard task anyway, so I've eliminated them from my audience. So, any way, back to my idea, the issue that I would showcase to Cambridge is the South Florida or Miami issue. That leaves plenty of topics for me to write about: the reuse of old buildings in Little Haiti for the exodus of art galleries from Wynwood, the popularization of the Florida trail, Miami beach floods, the positions of politicians on climate change in Florida, local food markets, the SlowFoods collaboration in schools, the change to cooking locally in the spring, the "ugly" food movement!!! What a jackpot! Also, for spring break, I'm going to visit my family in Brazil, perhaps I'll take advantage of the opportunity and take some candids of tropical beauty while I'm there for the magazine (for the sneak peek of the next issue or just for aesthetic effect).

"Luckerson, Victor. "How Snapchat Built Its Most Addictive Feature." Time. Time, 25 Sept. 2015. Web. 13 Mar. 2016."

"Shah, Anup. "Poverty and the Environment." Global Issues. Global Issues, 12 Feb. 2005. Web. 13 Mar. 2016."

Research + Purpose

Climate Change has gotten to people through education in institutions like public schools, universities, etc. and the media. Thus far, the media uses scare rhetoric to get the attention of the people but in my opinion, the dramatization is more crippling and depressing than inspiring. In 2014, many people saw the Bill Nye vs. Ken Ham debate, more than 5 million people! It was popular partly because of the name recognition of Bill Nye the Science Guy, the millennial childhood scientist. People, in the 1990s and beyond, had grown up with this man teaching them the water cycle in middle school classrooms. He is now an avid spokesperson for climate change and regularly sparks debates on television and answers Q&As on social media such as tumblr. However, people got tired of the same sad story. After a day of school or work, no one wants to think about taking responsibility for their actions. Movements like the Environmental Media Association (EMA) have made sustainable practices and climate change talks more accessible by affecting Hollywood. Their innovative idea of merging celebrity life with environmentalism has started things like the Green Carpet and open discussions of environmentalism. Leonardo DiCaprio's Oscar speech has gone viral with the message of environmentalism and movies such as "The Martian" hold underlying themes of environmentalism. The key, I believe, is changing the connotation of environmentalism into a positive and accessible one by colloquializing it. My next question: "Who is my audience?"

"Boykoff, Maxwell T., and Jules M. Boykoff. "Climate Change and Journalistic Norms: A Case-study of US Mass-media Coverage." Geoforum 38.6 (2007): 1190-204. Science Direct, 5 Jan. 2007. Web. 12 Mar. 2016."

Levin, Debbie. "EMA | EMA." EMA. Sierra Club, n.d. Web. 12 Mar. 2016."

"Over 3 Million Tuned In for Historic Bill Nye and Ken Ham Debate." Answers in Genesis. Answers in Genesis, 5 Feb. 2014. Web. 12 Mar. 2016."

"Watch The Creationism Vs. Evolution Debate: Ken Ham And Bill Nye." NPR. NPR, 4 Feb. 2014. Web. 12 Mar. 2016."

A New Look

I played around with Blogger and dressed up this ol' web page. I think that now, by first glance, someone can tell that it has something to do with the environment. I used that courier font for the title because I'm making sustainability attainable and trendy (I mean, I hope) and what better than to make it look earthy yet modern? Also, this is an online blog. 

Most people should know about climate change and environmental disasters. It's kind of a big deal. You see, the world as we know it might change, irreversibly, and who's fault is it? Ours, of course. The consumerist practices we've adopting for decades is taking its toll and despite the alarmist calls of scientists, little is being done about it. Yes, people know about climate change, but we won't do much about it. The scare tactics used by the media surrounding the topic haven't pushed people to work against it. My idea is to make sustainable practices a positive reward. Maybe if it is trendy and popular and easy, people will want to participate. This is what I want for my magazine. 

Introduction

Hello Cambridge and viewers,
My name is Kelly Soluri and I've been told that this blog should reflect the progress that I have with my AICE Media Studies Project. I'm doing an environmental magazine. I've known that ever since I signed up for the task but now, I have to decide how I'm going to execute it.