Veganism – The first topic I’m interested in covering is veganism. The plant-based movement is taking the world by storm, and New York City is in the vanguard for the rising vegan scene. Adhering to a cruelty-free diet is a recent passion of mine, so covering these events to broadcast the key message of veganism is especially close to my heart. There are several vegan events and festivals coming to the city in the months to follow; the Brooklyn “Vegan Shop-Up” in March is one that I’m particularly eyeing.
I imagine that many vegan restaurateurs and vendors would be happy to talk about why the event was organized or what inspired them to start a vegan restaurant, and what they hope they hope their customers will get out of it. Delving deeper into these interviews, I envision writing stories on what inspired them to turn to a green lifestyle – whether it’s out of compassion for animals, health benefits, helping the environment, or a mix of those reasons.
Coffee – I’m an avid coffee drinker and aspire to open my own café one day, so coffee is another topic I’m interested in exploring. Like the evolving vegan culture in New York City, I’ve observed that the coffee scene is also becoming trendier. Coffee shop design is becoming more minimalistic. High-quality roasts are in demand, as evident by the influx of coffee bars like Bluebird Coffee, Gregory’s Coffee and Stumptown Coffee Roasters.
The types of stories that I would concentrate my coverage on are emerging small businesses and established coffee bars alike. For the new class of start-ups, I’d cover what makes them standout in a city where there is certainly no shortage of coffee shops. Baristas would be interviewed about how much more sophisticated their role behind the counter has grown over the past few years, in direct correlation with an increase in coffee zealotry. For the coffee shop veterans who have made a name for themselves – take Blue Bottle Coffee, for instance, I envision writing stories about how they personalize their marketing. This includes how they make their brand not only recognizable but loved, and the importance of design in their cups and stores.