Blogging the News

https://blogs.baruch.cuny.edu/justoffthe7/?p=182

https://blogs.baruch.cuny.edu/renaissanceonaplate/

Mission Statement

One the most communal experiences we have as human beings is getting the chance to sit down in a dark room with a group of total strangers and enjoy the same film. After a long day of work, school, or dealing with family issues, we all seek the distraction and escapism that a film provides us.

One very popular networking forum for film lovers is the ability to be able to go online and discuss your favorite films with other people. Online film reviewing is a fast-rising way for individuals to reach into their own inner critic. There are literally hundreds of blogs and online threads that give the regular average Joe the opportunity to sound off on their favorite films.

One of the things I have noticed about these film blogs is that they mostly seem to focus on a certain type of movie: mainstream ones. Comic-book blockbusters, young adult adaptations, big-star vehicles; all these genres get plenty of ink within online-film forums. In terms of blogs, I believe that one underserved and undervalued market is that for people with more high-brow taste in films. These so-called cinephiles are relatively small in terms of size but they more than make up for it in terms of film devotion.

A cinephile studies film theory and film history with ardent passion. They follow the career of all their favorite directors, screenwriters, cinematographers, etc. They usually collect DVDs from the Criterion Collection, which has thousands of titles of classic films from the days of the French New Wave and Italian Neo-realism to the German expressionism films and 70’s American cinema.

In today’s film market, one type of film that the cinephile craves the most is the “indie” or the art-house film. Independent cinema allows filmmakers to accomplish things that are not possible in more mainstream Hollywood films, which are usually tinkered with by the big studio executives.

Indie films make it possible for the director to present his or her auteurial vision onto the screen. Everything from the production design and the aesthetics to the choice of actors and the establishing of camera shots, these are all decisions that the director has a last take on. These are qualities that the indie film audience takes note of and appreciates. Films directed by the likes of Wes Anderson, Paul Thomas Anderson, David Fincher, James Gray, Quentin Tarantino, Jonathan Glazer, Spike Jonze, Mike Leigh and Steve McQueen are all perfect examples of must-see “event” films that the average indie film enthusiast would not dare miss. This audience deserves a blog or a forum where they can discuss and debate with other cinephiles.

Which brings me to our proposed blog; The Art-House Attic will allow indie-film lovers the chance to sound off on the latest releases from the world of independent cinema. Getting a front-row view from the historic Angelika Film Center in New York City, we constantly see what this audience craves from the films they watch and their opinions are usually very varied and passionate.

Unfortunately, there is a recent trend of independent films getting released on video on demand (VOD) while simultaneously being dropped in only a few theatres, usually in large urban cities like Los Angeles and New York. On one hand this is very convenient for individuals who live in states located in the southern part of the country or in the mid-west because they get to see thought-provoking films that otherwise they would have had to travel thousands of miles to get a glimpse of. On the other hand, I believe that VOD takes away from the traditional communal experience that watching a film on the big screen brings to the most rabid of cinephiles. The smaller studios that distribute independent films see VOD as a more attractive option in terms of recuperating their investments. The Angelika Film Center is an exception in that it provides an opportunity for these specialized VOD movies to show in the cinema for at least a month.

Unlike most film blogs that usually feature the administrator and a few outside contributors to write their reviews of the films, The Art-House Attic will allow New Yorkers and cinephiles of all stripes to give their opinions on the spot, immediately after watching the films. Everything from documentaries to foreign cinema and the latest mind-bending indies will be put on the table for our readers and audience to dissect. The Art-House Attic will also seek to perform Q & A’s with the latest indie filmmakers who sometimes have special screenings of their films at the Angelika Film Center.

Other art-house film blogs like The Film Experience, Indiewire and Shadow & Act are very informative and articulate about films. But they are not very inclusive in terms of who gets to contribute on their blogs besides in the comments section of course. The Art-House Attic will seek to provide that open space for the regular, non-professional indie film lover to let his or her voice be heard.

Editorial Plan:

I plan to feature in-depth reviews of the latest independent films as told by regular New Yorkers. There will be intellectual debates, agreements and disagreements and most importantly, entertaining analysis and dissections of the most talked-about releases in art-house cinema.

Currently in Theaters:

This section will focus on films that are still playing in theaters. Reviewers will be interviewed immediately after watching the films. This will allow us to get an unfiltered reaction from the reviewer. We will also post reviews on VOD (video on demand) films that are currently available.

The DVD Corner:

This section will focus on reviews of films that are already out on DVD. There were a lot of thought-provoking films released earlier in the year that had cinephiles raving. Usually, the best Indies are released in the fall or the winter but recently there is a new trend in which these types of films get an early-year release date. We will also look back at older films that are considered classics, specifically from the Criterion Collection. The DVD release of these films will be the perfect time to look back at these gems.

Mainstream with an Indie sensibility:

This section will focus on reviews of films that although are produced by a major studio, are still rich in character development and story narrative.

New York on Film:

Whether new films or classics, New York has always been a major inspiration for filmmakers. This section will focus on films that take place in New York. Reviewers will analyze how the big apple is portrayed on the big screen.

My take:

This section will allow me to analyze a film that has captured the cultural zeitgeist, not just focus on plot points and narrative. I will go in depth to seek how the films I review portray serious issues such as politics, socio-economics, class, gender, race, sexuality, etc.

Interviews:

At the Angelika Film Center we get to meet filmmakers of all stripes. Hopefully in this section we will get the opportunity to interview a cast or crew member of an Independent film that has been recently released in theaters or on VOD.

Multimedia:

In this section we will feature podcast interviews with the reviewers and hopefully with the filmmakers of the latest art-house films.

Length and frequency of blog posts:

The reviews will be from 400-600 words. The interviews will depend on the guest but they will be anywhere from 400-1000 words. Hopefully the frequency of the posts will be a minimum of twice per week.

Mission Statement

New York City – the birthplace of Salsa music. New Yorkers have heard or seen the hot, sultry, and spicy music and dancing all over the five boroughs. However, some people find Salsa to be very intimidating for various reasons. I have heard it all: “It is too fast,” “I am not Latino/a,” “I have two left feet,” “I don’t have time,” “I am not good at it.” Many New Yorkers believe that they understand what Salsa music and dancing is all about but what they really lack is experience in the New York City Salsa vibe. The purpose of this blog is to take readers inside the Salsa scene in New York City.

My target audience will be men and women of any age and ethnicity. It is never too early or too late for anyone to learn about the Salsa community. This is for the world to read. Throughout my years in the Salsa scene, I have met many people from across the globe who choose to learn about Salsa because they feel awkward at dance parties or simply want to spice up their lives with a new hobby. The whole beauty and idea of this blog is to not make anyone feel that they are being restricted from joining the Salsa world. Nonetheless, I want to welcome everyone to feel or come acquainted with what the Latin American culture has to offer in the big apple.

The need of this blog is to introduce to New Yorkers as well as outsiders to the expansion of Salsa. It has hugely evolved through out the years but yet some are not well informed on what New York Salsa really is or where to find it. The Salsa scene is very much different from what you might think or see at a nightclub. It isn’t only about the rhythm or movements, it’s about the discipline of foot patterns and timing at the right beat. It’s as easy as “1-2-3, 5-6-7”. So what’s the hidden message behind these numbers? Can you hear, feel, or show it?

Welcome to New York Salsa or as the Salseros/Salseras say “Salsa on 2”. This is what makes New York Salsa very unique and catch the eye of many people! Salsa dancing has now become so diverse, allowing people to gather and demonstrate their talents and passion as an artwork. People are not only awed the by this sensual and fierce dancing, but by the way it has changed and inspired the lives of others that I think it is time to share it with you. My vision for this blog is to guide you and deliver the latest news on the Salsa community. You will be informed on some of the most amazing dance studios in NYC, the events that are held yearly, the sizzling salsa nightlife socials, the lives of salsa dancers, how it changed certain communities and the lives of many people. I will post pictures that are symbolic and express emotion. Also, I want to post videos that will give you a better insight of Salsa dancing and drive you to move with the music.

My blog is definitely on a sharper edge than other blogs out there. It is not the typical “How-To” or “It’s all about Salsa and I” blog. As stated above, my intention is to bring the Salsa scene to light. I will be covering Salsa from different angles in New York City. I want to share true stories with you in the hopes of inspiring and conveying the latest information.

I have browsed around the Internet and found a couple of blogs that shared their experiences with Salsa dancing but one that I liked very much was the “Salsa-dancing-addict.” A man named Arren, blogs about his experience in the Salsa scene and how he became addicted to it ever since. As I was reading through, I connected with his story. I reminisced about my very first day of Salsa and oh, how those feelings returned… I was interested in reading more but I found it very disappointing how much detail there is in one page. I must say, it could very overwhelming for any beginner or even drive the reader to close the page. The worst news was to find the blog not being updated. I clicked on the list of events and the last update that I saw was in October 2, 2013! It looks like the blog has been completely abandoned for a year now. This is something I will definitely take into consideration if I want my readers to stay. I definitely do advise the blogger to stay on track and do something of the colors used and organization of his page.

Well New Yorkers, now that you know what is expected of me, I hope my work does not disappoint. Salsa is like the sauce, hot and spicy! If you put the right ingredients it will sure taste delicious! My advice to you, “Dance First and Think Later!”

Editorial Plan:

The significance of my blog is about the Salsa Scene in New York City. I want to inform my readers about the Salsa community, places, and events to go in the 5 boroughs.

Types of content:

I’d like to create a great visual effect of the Salsa passion to my readers conveying it through my writing. I will include:

• Updates on social media (Instagram and Facebook) preferably any day from Thursday to Sunday: Places such as Salsa studios, Salsa restaurants, and Salsa clubs to attend to.
• Large posts will have interviews with Howie Lorenz, Julissa Pena, or Jose Mariscal (Owners of Lorenz Latin Dance Studio in the 5 boroughs) and Salsa students (beginner, intermediate, and advance.)
• Short posts will have special entertaining events/ Salsa performances in NYC.
• All posts will have pictures featured in. Videos will be for the larger posts.

Break Down The Numbers:

Longer posts will contain 500 words and up.  Shorter posts will contain at least 200 words.

Time To Create Posts:

I would need at least 4 hours because I’d like to incorporate passion into my work. I wouldn’t want to rush my way through it. I want to be very precise and organized with the pictures and videos I will include.

Frequency of Updates: 

I would like to update at least every once a week and twice a week maximum. I am particularly focused on posting any day from Thursdays to Sundays.

Possible Interviewees

• Howie Lorenz – Owner of Lorenz Latin Dance Studio in Glendale
• Jose Mariscal – Owner of Lorenz Latin Dance Studio in Manhattan
• Professional Salsa Dancers who performed in one of the greatest events in NYC, “The New York International Salsa Congress”: Andrea Rosado, Luigi Zambrano
• Professional Salsa Instructors
• Salsa Students (Beginner, Intermediate, and Advance)
• “Salsa on 1” and “Salsa on 2” Dancers

Multimedia:

• Pictures of Salsa Dancers/Dancing, Salsa events, Salsa restaurants, Salsa clubs, and anyone who is participating in the Salsa Community
• Videos of Salsa lessons, Dancing, The Salsa scene – better known as “Salsa Socials” which takes place particularly on the weekends

Specific Story Ideas:

• The opening of “Lorenz Latin Dance Studio”.
• The first Salsa Studio in Glendale, Queens
• Before and After the Salsa studio
• The expansion of Salsa studios in the 5 boroughs

Mission Statement

Gentrification is a loaded issue because it highlights two matters neighborhoods arguably face; loss of culture and preservation of culture. “Renaissance on a Plate” will address gentrification through the lens of the hospitality industry; restaurants, bars, cafes, and any space where one can grab a bite to eat or a drink to sip.

The village of Harlem, New York City’s historically rich neighborhood, has transformed because gentrification is in full effect. Harlem is home to well-known spaces, including the famous Apollo Theatre and southern soul food kitchen Sylvia’s Restaurant. Cultural movements, such as “The Harlem Renaissance” and “Civil Rights Movement,” shaped Harlem into the neighborhood we all know. But, the residents of this area need to be aware of the rapid changes occurring before their very eyes.

We will examine what happens when corner bodegas transform into trendy bars, and local fried chicken joints are replaced with elaborate Italian bistros. Confronting the residents of Harlem to get their opinions on these changes, interviewing the owners and employees of various businesses, profiling well-known vintage eateries to contrast its newest neighbors- these are a few critical aspects of the blog. Capturing photos and videos of the businesses in the neighborhood will provide readers with visual content to showcase the live occurrences of gentrification. Our posts will be insightful, but will also take on a curious approach when we uncover fresh information. “Renaissance on a Plate” is on a mission to discover whether this transformation caused by gentrification is diminishing or preserving the culture of Harlem.

There are tons of neighborhoods in New York City in the midst of gentrification. News organizations in the city point out blatant political issues that gentrification brings to the surface, but the city lacks the live coverage we feel is necessary when reporting news surrounding this topic. A simple Google search using the keywords “Gentrification News New York City” shows that this topic is not as profoundly exposed as it should be. The articles listed on the first search page are dated, stretching back as far as nine months ago. In addition to the lack of consistent coverage, most of the articles heavily focus on gentrification through the real estate perspective. Real estate is the initial thought that comes to mind when gentrification is the topic of choice, but gentrification is not limited to this one area of focus. . “Renaissance on a Plate” differs in that we want to report the happenings of gentrification as it occurs, specifically through the urban renewal of eateries. We will lightly touch on other layers of gentrification- real estate, demographics, art culture, etc- but our main objective is to maintain our distinctiveness by honing in on the effects of gentrification within the food service industry.

Harlem is our targeted community, so we are initially aiming to connect to local residents while we set out to uncover the primary subject matter. We want to attract Harlem natives- both the young and old generations, people who are new to the area and people who are interested in moving in. It is important to reach people who are familiar with Harlem’s historical background and how the neighborhood has transformed to its present state. We are also aiming to attract experts within the food industry. Those who are familiar with general operational strategies of restaurants and bars will be able to understand why owners make certain decisions for their businesses. We will make use of the most beneficial online platforms that will help us gain a following of readers, and to then connect to those readers. We want our stories and multimedia to be easily accessible to everybody, so we will stream our content through our Twitter and Instagram profiles.

“Renaissance on a Plate” aims to curate content concentrating on our local findings of gentrification in the food and beverage industry. While Harlem is our main area of focus, we are aware of the vast number of neighborhoods in New York City also experiencing gentrification; Williamsburg in Brooklyn and Astoria in Queens are two examples. We believe “Renaissance on a Plate” has the potential to grow and we want to foster an environment that will help it do so, so we will not hesitate to include neighborhoods facing similar issues whenever necessary.

Maintaining an unambiguous objective is important to us, which is why we want to build a solid community of readers to help us communicate our message.

Editorial Content Overview

Types of content:

I want to write a mix of posts, some posts will be shorter in length and some will be longer. Some will include multimedia, some will not. I want my posts to be somewhat consistent in content, so I may have reoccurring/themed posts. In some of the longer posts I would focus on interviews or Q&As with restaurant owners, employees, residents of Harlem, experts in sociology, etc. However, if I decide to upload a video of an interview, my posts will be shorter in length.

Reoccurring/Themed Posts Ideas:

-“Qs & As”: Have detailed Q&A interviews with restaurant owners, experts in gentrification, council people, etc. Ask them about their backgrounds, why they chose to have their business in the neighborhood, opinions about gentrification, etc.

-“Meet the Streets”: Interviews with the people of Harlem (new residents, old residents, college students, etc). Ask them for a short background story; how long have they lived in Harlem, where, etc. Then ask them for their opinions on the changes in the neighborhood. Do they think it is good or bad?

-“Old Timers”: Profiling the older businesses in the neighborhood. How/ why are these businesses still around? I will add in additional information from restaurant owners, employees, costumers, etc.

-“Dine Time”: My personal dining experiences at the restaurants in Harlem. Inside access to their menus, venue, employees, etc. I will basically write a review of my experience, and tie it to my thoughts as to whether this fits into the culture of Harlem or if it is completely different.

Break down the numbers:                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

-Longer Posts: 500+ words                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

 -Shorter Posts with multimedia: 300- words

How frequently would post:                                                                                                                                                                                                              

 -Once a week minimum, twice a week maximum. I will make Thursday or Friday my designated days to post.

How much time do you envision it will take to create posts:                                                                                                                                                  

-1-3 hours

List of people to interview:                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

-Chef Maruc Samuleson: Owner of Red Rooster

– Melissa Mark-Viverito: NYC Council Speaker and represents District 8 (East Harlem)

-Baruch Black and Latino studies or sociology professors

-Geoffrey Canada: President of Harlem’s Children Zone

-Business Owners in Harlem

Description of multimedia good for blog:                                                                                                   

-Photos of businesses in the neighborhood (before and after pictures of the spaces, Photos of decorative business in bad areas, etc)

-Photos of business owners or anybody I interview

-Videos of interviews, live events, etc.

Additional ideas:

-Coverage of events: This wouldn’t count as a reoccurring post because events are not ongoing. But if there is some type of restaurant event or festival in Harem, I will be there to cover what is happening. I will capture photos, video, interview people, etc.

-Before and After: Short posts of the businesses that were in a space before and the businesses that are currently there. Include photos in this post as well.

-Post about the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture: Explain my findings of the Harlem in past, and of anything dealing with gentrification in Harlem.

1) New York City’s Fall Scenery and Events.

“Falls Gotta Give”

I’d really like to blog about New York’s Fall Scenery and Events that will take place this year. Times have changed and so has New York City. Some people like to keep old traditions and visit places they’re familiar with, but others like to discover new sceneries and events that the Big City has to offer. I don’t blame them. I used to think Summer was the best season by far until last year when I became a lover of the fall. In my opinion, I think it’s the perfect time to enjoy being outdoors, reconnect, and try all kinds of things. My blog is to entertain and inspire others to see the beauty of nature, people, to go and about! “Falls Gotta Give” is like taking long soothing walks on the beach except it’s walking through red, yellow, orange leaves with a little bit of a cool breeze. Stay tuned New Yorkers!

P.s The idea of my blog is to show how we can find a place in NYC and make it meaningful to us. The name “Falls Gotta Give” was inspired by one of my favorite movies, “Somethings Gotta Give”.

Our Generation Today

Another topic that I’d like to blog about is about our Generation today. The way we think, speak, do the things that we do, and why we do it. It fascinating to know what people used to do years ago before technology was so advanced, venues that existed once upon a time,  music that had actual meaning through lyrics, the list goes on. I want to know peoples perspectives on the world, on their and others lives. I want to connect people’s experiences and find patterns. Most of all, I want my readers to question themselves and reflect. A little thought goes a long way.

I chose topics related to my personal interests. I love restaurant life in NYC. I have a yelp account where I write reviews on my experiences, and most of my experiences are at restaurants. My minor is sociology, and I am also very interested in black and Latino communities in America. Here is what I came up with:

My ideas:

1. Gentrification of restaurants in Harlem: Instead of speaking about gentrification, I want branch off this issue and focus how Harlem’s restaurant scene has been affected by gentrification. I think gentrification in itself does not get a lot of coverage. Maybe because it’s an issue forces want to keep hidden, or maybe it’s because people in the gentrified communities don’t realize the importance of gentrification, but I want to bring this to light in a fun way. I don’t know the type of voice I’d use on my blog because I love the new restaurants and chic businesses in my neighborhood, but I hate that gentrification is taking away from the culture in Harlem. This is something I’d have to brainstorm.

2. “Kids”of Harlem: I’ve noticed a lot of Harlem natives around my age “hustling” to make better lives for themselves. A good portion of the people I grew up with are graduates or enrolled in college, make their own music or clothes, have their own businesses, etc. But some of the people I grew up with are not walking down the same path. Many of these people’s parents and grandparents did not have the same opportunities we have today, and I wanted to address this issue on my blog. Why is this the case for some of us and not all of us? What opportunities do we have in Harlem that affect our future,  both now and then?

This course introduces students to the world of journalistic blogging and social media in all its diversity, from exploring complex policy, social and economic issues to offering commentary on local art exhibits, music clubs, and local food stands. Students will learn techniques for making their online writing engaging, how to make a point quickly, and how to develop ideas and find an original voice while hewing to journalism’s commitment to accuracy and clarity.