Blogging the News

Mission Statement

Urban agriculture is a growing trend all over the world, and in New York City new spots are popping up every season. These organizations do a great job at spreading the word about the work they are doing, and have successfully been supported by their communities. Concrete Jungle Farming will provide local news stories highlighting the growth of agriculture projects around New York City and provide information for enthusiasts wanting to learn more about urban agriculture in New York City about where to learn, participate, or buy locally harvested produce.

Concrete Jungle Farming will bring news stories about new and interesting agriculture projects around New York City about how they started. There are also countless community gardens all over the five boroughs that do amazing work and are supported by their local community that can give ideas to others all over the world. New York City can take a huge step towards sustainability, and set itself apart if urban agriculture becomes a dominant part of city landscape.

Through original coverage, readers will be able to learn about some of the local agriculture projects. Urban Agriculture is just starting to get some media exposure, and there are many blog forums about starting your very own garden, there is no platform that talks about the local agriculture community. News about forums or studies, and how it relates to what’s going on in New York, legislative changes that relate to urban farming in the city, or new agriculture projects that are opening up. This blog will track the growth of urban agriculture in New York City.

This kind of site has a lot of potential to be a groundbreaking platform of information. New York City is largely untapped in its potential to support agricultural projects. Concrete Jungle Farming would like to see urban farms grow all over the city and have more people wanting to support local agriculture. As the trend grows in New York, as well as all over the world, this sight can become at the heart of the industry, providing a platform for some organizations to spread word as well as an outlet for people to come and learn.

Competitive Analysis

The closest website to competition would be fiveboroughfarm.org. Five Borough Farms is subsidiary project to Design Trust for Public Space and is actively trying to grow urban agriculture projects around New York City as well as to provide information. Concrete Jungle Farming will be an advocate for New York City urban agriculture but will not put forth any efforts into any projects itself. As an objective news blog covering the industry, Concrete Jungle Farming will highlight local farms, new farming projects, and general information about the benefits of urban agriculture. At no time will Concrete Jungle Farming advocate on behalf of a particular urban agriculture organization.

Concrete Jungle Farming Editorial Plan

I want to create a page that provides great interesting coverage of the urban agriculture industry in New York City. There is a lot to cover and I don’t think any local media has been really focusing on it. From the innovative farms in unique locations to markets and restaurants who buy their goods. There can be so many different articles to come out of this, I’m afraid my only limitation will be the weather. The articles are going to be more long form pieces that include original reporting and maybe some photography. I don’t have any lofty ideas for the blog long term, but I think it would be really interesting to see if any of my posts get shared through social media.

Types of Content:

Q&A- these would be shorter articles that would run more frequently, maybe once a week. There are a lot of people in the industry I could interview, a restaurant chef who buys locally grown produce, someone who works at a community garden, local customers of produce either at restaurants or from the neighborhood farms community board leaders where farms are in their district, community members who volunteer, etc.

Profile- I want to write individual profiles of specific community gardens or urban farms. Some local gardens do wonderful community service. The larger farms are highly innovative and provide an example for how we should move forward. I also want to write an article focusing on the importance of urban agriculture in terms of food sustainability on a much larger scale.

I could do a short blog maybe of different Instagram posts of people’s food of locally grown produce.

Numbers:

For the interviews I’m not sure how long they will be, it depends on the subject and how long their responses are. The profile pieces would be longer form stories, maybe 600-800 words.

The Q&A’s I would try to keep up once a week, and produce the longer form pieces every two weeks. I would have an option to sign up for emails and the articles would be emailed when the profile pieces come out every two to three weeks.

There many articles about urban agriculture around New York City, however there is not a steady source of information to learn about the industry. I want to provide an inside look from the people growing, buying and eating locally grown produce.

Multimedia

I am going to try to include photos in as many posts possible. If I can get a picture of the subject, or of the garden or farm that would be great. Additionally I think it would be great to include a video of some kind about the agriculture industry as a whole, or about one garden or farm like a profile piece.

  Mission Statement

One eye catching form of entertainment we usually come across is music, my idea is to capture this in a whole new light of capturing who is behind creating the music. I want to introduce my readers to new musicians and the “The Day In The Life Of…” talking a walk in their shoes for a day. However, we know that the life of musicians aspiring to make it big is never easy. Perhaps they feel that entertaining people in New York will get them some exposure or promote them a step ahead towards attaining their own dreams.  The truth is that many of these new artists in the making are young and confident, and talented, but that won’t get them far like they would have hoped out here. The City is huge, and can make anyone feel small and alone and that’s exactly how these young musicians feel, but its also because the city is full of great competition and its hard to gain recognition.  Yet why would they leave everything they know behind countries or states away? How could they survive on nothing and be so confident that they will become famous in the city instead? What keeps them going and not packing up to go back home to their old life? What daily struggles do they go through day by day just to make a little money? There’s always a darker side to something, before it gets any better after all.

This blog will give us insight that will dig deeper into these aspiring musicians’ lives, not only will it help promote new musicians, but also help give these new artists a voice of who they truly are when they aren’t performing to make a little cash. I want my blog to be a source that people can turn to when they are feeling lost themselves or sucked away into the city life with struggles of their own. I also want them to become inspired by the experiences of other musicians I will write about in my blog posts.

Furthermore, non-musicians will be able to relate to artists as I show the day in the life of new musicians from all over New York. I will seek to interview musicians in all five boroughs. I also envision doing stories of how far they’ve come to get to this point, what sets them apart from others struggling musicians perhaps in their home states, and what long term goals they hope will happen for them staying in New York. All the content my blog will provide will be personal one on one interviews explaining how they got to where they are and why.

The difference between my blog and other music blogs is that I will be covering a more intense truth behind a musician and actually get to know who they are as a person rather then just look at them as another entertainer begging for money on the streets. Most music blogs are created strictly to help expose and promote musicians. Although I also will be in a way helping them with the same reasons, I’ll also be showing people who follow my blog a completely different side of the day in the life of these musicians and the hardships they go through in their daily lives to make something of themselves. Being a photographer, I will also add slideshows and music clips of them performing maybe even a podcast of the actual interviews I will be doing. I feel like these things will capture my followers attention, and keep their focus because they will feel like they are actually there themselves, making them want to read more about these people I cover.

In any case, just like any other blog would I want my followers to be able to have easy access to be able to read my blog whenever they want to, every blog should want to take full advantage of using technology to provide all this information with people around the world. Everyone is so consumed with their smart phones, Facebook accounts, Twitter, Instagram that getting the word out there in order to expose ones own blog shouldn’t be a big problem. It would be useful for me to use this as my own advantage to advertise the musicians I cover maybe by simply sharing content from their own pages or websites they may have created. This is also a good way to help expose and promote them as a step more towards their goals since my blog will be giving them more publicity to maybe even managers of music companies.

Like I stated before, there are endless music blogs out there, the list goes on and on. Some blogs may be bigger than others depending on how much they promote, and how many followers they have gained from the coverage they provide. I am not certain as who would be big time competition when it comes to music blogs, but I do understand that in order to create a music blog one must first understand music and what they are really talking about. Straying off topic for example, could have an affect on my readers and they will automatically lose interest and  stop following the blog.  It is important in any blog to gain the popularity you think it deserves, without pushing it too far and making it something its not. I feel as though I’ll make it far with my blog, only because I never actually seen other music blogs get to know a person other than just being an entertainer or performer. I like the whole idea of “A Day In The Life Of…”  theme because it truly shows the other side of a musician a side that not many people perceive because they are always too preoccupied with what they see rather than what they know.

    Eventually, I’d like to see my blog grow and become something amazing people can enjoy reading. I want to provide an entertaining, insightful view and recognition of these musicians to the public in hopes that it will be helping not only them, but my readers too.

Editorial Plan 

Types of content: 

I of course want my target audience to be people who aspire to be musicians themselves one day, or people who enjoy music in general. In order to gain that type of popularity and actually get people to follow my blog, I will have new and interesting stories/interviews on new musicians as much as possible. My goal is to make my readers see the other side of a person behind the music, at a more personal and deeper level.  I want people to know what its like to take a walk in someone else’s shoes for a day and become inspired by how far they’ve come today as musicians in New York.

  Q&As: Because  the topic of my blog is focusing on music, I have a lot of potential for finding easy interviews on the streets or trains. Aspiring musicians are everywhere constantly entertaining and trying to expose themselves so I know I’ll have a lot of people to strike up conversations with and that they’ll be willing to talk. I’ll be focusing on all different types of artists performing different types of genres in the music world, and from all around New York so to get an interview should be simple

Possible interviewees:  I’m not entirely focused on any specific group or person to interview, like I said before the city is big with constant new street/train performers waiting for exposure so I feel like I’d always have new choices to pick from.

Number of updates/Time to create post:  I plan to update my blog at least once or twice a week. Each post I make on my blog will cover one article of a new musician, band, performer I come across. longer stories will be 500 words and up while my shorter stories will be about 200-300 words long. Since I’m going to be getting a lot of information on in order to keep my readers interested, I will need about 2 hours to get some kind of interview and then about 3 hours to piece the entire thing together into a story.

Multimedia:  I will be doing a bunch of things in this area, visuals are an important part of my story considering I want my readers to experience the performances as if they were there themselves. So in order to do that I’ll be attaching slideshows of the music scene and people I interview, as well as maybe a podcast to some of my stories of the interview as well. I also want to attach music clips to the stories of the musicians in action.

Story Ideas: For the moment I’d have to think more deeper into my stories but I think I can create an interesting story on what makes the musician want to perform in a particular music genre, like perhaps it has to do with their background such as their culture, their family back home, or maybe because that specific type of music is famous back in their home states or country. I seen  bands perform in the trains that were actually pretty famous back in their home land. So I could  maybe come across another band like that and strike up a story of how they came to be so famous and why struggle with it in New York when the city is filled with competition.

By Liz Kim

Mission Statement 

Just Off the 7 is a guide for those who want to venture out to Queens but aren’t sure where to start. It will cater to the likes of foodie Manhattanites who may want to try blood sausage in a restaurant that’s essentially a shack attached to one of the original Korean supermarkets in New York City. It will cater to the Japanese anime and manga-philes who yearn for a copy of a Miyazaki movie that not even eBay seems to have. Despite a population that’s mostly East Asian, Flushing also boasts substantial South Asian (home to one of the oldest Little Indias in North America), Irish, Greek, Russian, Italian, Sri Lankan, and Hispanic communities. Just Off the 7 will feature the restaurants and shops in these enclaves and share the unique stories of a hard working middle class.

If you look for blogs about Flushing, the choices aren’t just slim — they’re almost nonexistent. The sites that do feature it focus solely on the restaurants. However these Flushing-based posts are so infrequent that it’s difficult to stay up to date with what Flushing has to offer. Also, anybody looking to explore Flushing for the day has a hard time finding not only where to eat but what to do afterward. Just Off the 7 will provide an insider’s look into Flushing’s many landmarks and parks. The Queens Botanical Garden, Flushing Meadows-Corona Park (home to the Unisphere), and Queens Archery are just some of the tourist attractions that might interest those living in other boroughs.

Currently there are two blogs that are Flushing-centric: Flushing Exceptionalism and My Flushing. My Flushing is visually staid and there hasn’t been a new post since April 2011. The content is generic and more of a diary of someone who just happens to live in Flushing. Flushing Exceptionalism does a better job of providing newsy content and its material is more up to date. Still, the last post was published over a month ago and some of the features of the blog, like the archives, are defunct. Flushing Exceptionalism’s content is definitely more journalistic and quite a few of the posts are about Flushing’s political figures or the latest news on issues like construction. However at the moment there is no recent and running blog from the perspective of a Queens native about what Flushing has to offer in terms of food and entertainment. Although Just Off the 7 will have a journalistic backbone, it will have a tourism slant. Unlike My Flushing and Flushing Exceptionalism, both of which have a plain appearance and lack vivid imagery, my blog will be visually appealing and the images will be as vibrant and as loud as the neighborhood it’s featuring.

Another important piece of information that is lacking in other blogs and posts about Flushing is the 7 line. The 7 is both lauded and loathed but its importance is undeniable. From time to time Just Off the 7 will base some posts around it. For example, I’ll have tips and tricks about topics like when the best time to take it is and the interesting sights you see along the way. This will be especially handy to those living in other boroughs and also continues with the tourism theme of my blog.

I grew up and still live just a short bus ride away from Flushing. Manhattan used to be limited to Times Square and the rest of the boroughs were just as elus­ive. However once I started going to school in the city, even I admit that I snubbed the very place I used to call home. For me it lacked a certain cool factor that Manhattan and Brooklyn seemed to radiate and for a while, I avoided Flushing like a dad who insists on wearing sandals with socks. But one day it hit me mid-slurp at a noodle shop on Canal — why was I commuting over an hour and a half for a bowl of noodles I knew that I could easily get just half an hour away from home? Just Off the 7 is a call to the adventurous weekender but maybe even more importantly, it will remind the residents of Flushing that excitement and adventure can be found right down the block and not three subway transfers from there.

Editorial Plan 

Types of content: Just Off the 7 will serve as a guide on how to make the best out of your Flushing, Queens experience. It is for those living in other boroughs who want to venture out to Queens but aren’t sure where to start.

Q&As: Because the blog covers Flushing as a whole, there is a lot of potential material in terms of Q&As. Just Off the 7 will mainly target:

1. Out of town-ers: Those living outside of Flushing can be asked what, if anything, they know about Flushing, whether they’ve been, and what they usually do when they visit.
2. The residents: For those who are already living in or near Flushing, the interviews would be more about what they like to do in their neighborhood (i.e. the hole-in-the-wall restaurant that nobody else knows about), the misconceptions people may have about Flushing, the changes they’ve seen in their communities, etc.
3. Business owners: The business owners of Flushing will also be a fruitful source for interesting Q&As because they have to somehow make a profit in a neighborhood where shops are stacked on top of each other in threes and fours. They have also probably come across some unique characters over the years.

Coverage of events: Any events (that interest Madame Blogger) will be featured on Just Off the 7. Whether it’s a Latin American drum circle or a calligraphy workshop, the posts will highlight what the event is, the history behind it, the experience of attending the event, and perhaps how entertaining / tourist-friendly it is.

Issues related to blog: Flushing, like many other neighborhoods in New York City, can seem quite daunting to navigate. Some of the posts on Just Off the 7 will be about the frustrations of living in and visiting Flushing. For example, there is a high level of congestion, there is only one subway line, and you can forget about trying to find a parking spot on Main Street. Are people from other boroughs less likely to visit Flushing because of these factors? What are some possible solutions? These are just some of the questions that will be addressed.

Top Tweets / Round up of what others are saying on web: At the end of each posting week, there will be a post (maybe something like Flushing Fandom or Flushing: Friend or Foe) that will link to any notable articles, tweets, outside blog posts pertaining to Flushing. Before each link there will be a brief (one to two sentences) description of what the link leads to so that readers can pick and choose what interests them.

          Along with what others are saying, there will also be a post linking to the most popular out of Just Off the 7’s content that week. Popular tweets from Just Off the 7’s Twitter feed will also be featured.

Frequency of updates / Time devoted to post creation: Just Off the 7 will post four times each week: a restaurant review, where to go after you’ve eaten, a profile on an interesting resident of Flushing, and either a “Flushing vs.,” (this will be addressed in a later section) or some sort of long-form post.” Ideally the blogger would love to spend all day crafting entertaining and thought-provoking content but realistically shorter posts will probably take up to three hours and longer stories will take much longer. A long-form story may take days depending on the topic and how deep into it the post will delve.

In between the three main posts, Just Off the 7 will also have mini-posts on things like what the blogger has noticed about Flushing, a unique find, or even a question for the reader. These mini posts will constantly change as a way of keeping the blog fresh for both the reader and content creator.  Think of the mini posts as Tweets that have taken on a life of their own.

Story ideas: Because most of the population is immigrants, Just Off the 7 will feature many posts about the immigrant experience. Flushing, like many other neighborhoods in New York City, is so heavily concentrated with immigrants that oftentimes it can feel like you’ve never left your home country. This can prove challenging in terms of learning English and assimilating into “American culture,” but can also be helpful in terms of running a business or living day to day without having to worry too much about a language barrier.

An event that will definitely be featured on Just Off the 7 is the 25th Korean Harvest & Folklore Festival on October 20 to 21 at Flushing Meadows Corona Park. The two day event celebrates Korean “Chusok,” or autumn harvest, and every year thousands of visitors come to sample Korean food, shop, and watch live performances by K-Pop stars. Other than the usual posts about the event in general, there will also be a post about the “K-Wave.” (Why does Korean pop culture appeal to so many foreigners? How do Koreans feel about the sudden popularity? Etc.)

Multimedia: Flushing is an assault to the senses. Just Off the 7 will heavily rely on vivid photography and also the use of video so that readers can get a better sense of just how vibrant and loud the neighborhood is. Just Off the 7 would also often utilize smell-o-vision but alas such technology does not exist.

Special/Reoccurring features: Each week there will be a “Flushing vs. ____” post comparing what Flushing has to offer against what other neighborhoods have to offer. For example, Just Off the 7 will compare a dim sum restaurant in Chinatown to a dim sum restaurant in Flushing. The “Flushing vs.,” posts will highlight what Flushing excels at and what it lacks in.

Another reoccurring feature will be trivia about Flushing like celebrities who were raised there or interesting moments in its history. For more reader interaction this feature could be turned into a giveaway where the first reader to correctly guess an answer wins some sort of prize.

——————————————————————————————————————————-

Just Off the 7 will be an honest, bold, and quirky look at the controlled chaos that is Flushing. It wants you to eat some damn good food, have a damn good time, and then tell all your friends about it.

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

The small business blog is a project that will give small businesses a voice in the community. Small businesses in Brooklyn have no outlet to tell the community about their business. In a day and age where big corporations are taking over the market industry, small businesses must fight to survive. People usually choose the big corporate businesses because they can provide a vast amount of products that a small business cannot. Prices are also usually cheaper in the big corporation than a small business.

The blog will allow owners to market themselves to the public in order to give them a small chance of competing against these big corporations. With such rich history, the blog will cover small businesses in Brooklyn. Brooklyn has many small businesses that have been around for decades in many different neighborhoods with an abundance of history.

The audeience of this blog is for people who live in Brooklyn who are proud of their home. Many Brooklyn residents are unaware of the histories of the small businesses in their neighborhoods. With this blog, they will discover the many small businesses and will actually be able to visit the businesses. The other target audience for this blog will be people who are not from Brooklyn. Often people form a harsh preconception about Brooklyn before they even enter the borough. The blog will provide them with businesses that have been around for a long time to provide them with history.

There is a need for this blog because small businesses owners are continuously losing their business because of big corporations. Small businesses cannot compete with the big corporations that draw all the customers away. Newly opened Coffee Lab in Bay Ridge must draw in their customers to make enough money to stay open. They struggle to keep customers since there is a Starbucks and Dunkin’ donuts a couple of blocks away. Another business Aloha Grinds closed a couple of years ago because they did not have enough money to pay the lease. Aloha Grinds was a Hawaiian styled café. Even though they served food on top of their coffee, they could not make enough money to stay open. They did not have enough customers.

I will be creative in how I write my stories, seeking out the most interesting businesses. I want to find the small businesses that have been around for the longest times and share with the community about their stories. I intend to find small ma-and-pa shops that will allow me to share their story and interview them. The blog posts will go further than simply talking about the current situation of the business. I intend to talk about the business in the most successful time and plan to get every detail that I can. Some question that I’ll like to find the answer to are Why did they start the business in the first place, and How do they still stay open now?

I plan to attract my readers by finding different small businesses. I plan to post a different business each time that will cover many different businesses. For example, I may find a business that is all about sports which will attract sports fans. I may also find small restaurants with great food that will attract people who like to eat. I may also find a small bar that will attract people who enjoy alcohol and the social life. I plan to give my readers a taste of a little bit of everything. There are so many different types of businesses out there and I would be doing my readers a disservice if I did not give them many different options.

Competitive Analysis

News coverage of small businesses from major newspaper, The New York Times already exists. The goal of You’re the Boss blog by The New York Times is geared towards other business owners. Their blogs creates an atmosphere that other business owners can get news, ask questions and learn from one another mistakes. People in the community need a blog that is focused on getting them interesting information about businesses that they would want to go to.

The Huffington Post has many small business blogs but none share the goal of my blog. Most of their blogs are about new small businesses that have just opened and are successful. I want to find businesses that have been around for a long time.

Another blog worth noting is BusinessWeek’s The New Entrepreneur. This blog covers the news, trends and ideas that matter to entrepreneur. This blog covers heavily on what is new and interesting to entrepreneur. They do not target old businesses that have been there for a long time.

I believe there is a great need for this blog because there is an audience for it. There are other small business owners and people that look to support small businesses in their community. I plan to cover the void of a blog that focuses on old small businesses.

Editorial Plan

Types of content:

My plan is to write a featured story on each business that I decide to write about. I think that I should include as much detail about the business as I can in my blog post. My articles will range anywhere from 500 words to 1000 words. The content will be a brief history of the business, how the business is doing now, and the significance of the business. There will be a lot of quotes in my articles from the business owners if they allow me to interview them and a lot of quotes from customers of the business.

Number of updates:

I plan to update the blog once a week. Each blog post will consist of one article. I believe that it will take time for me to conduct the interviews that I need for my articles. I will also need the time to write the articles for the readers. I plan to have at least 14 articles by the end of the semester.

Time to create post:

It will take me approximately 2 hours to conduct an interview. Then it will take me another 2-3 hours to create the article.

Multimedia:

I will include 1-2 photos per blog post. I think that if I include too many photos it will distract the viewer away from the content of the writing. I want the writing to be the strength of the blog.

Possible interviews:

-Arlene Rutuelo- Owner of Nordic Delicacies

Mission Statement

The art world in New York can be characterized by its dynamic nature and vibrancy. In a city comprising hundreds of different activities and events regarding art, it can be overwhelming to keep up with everything that’s occurring around you. Of course, the mainstream shows taking place at the MOMA or MET will more than likely be announced in major New York newspapers/magazines, but where does the art-enthusiast go for information on events that are not advertised in the big-time media? Where can a local New Yorker find a small but satisfying gallery-opening to attend on a Friday night, where tourists are not bombarding the scene?
The objective of this blog is to notify these avid art-lovers of underground and local events which encompass not only art, but music, apparel, and dance, throughout various neighborhoods and venues in New York. Furthermore, reviews and interviews with the curators, artists, photographers, and the event’s attendees will also be provided. One of the hopes of this blog is to provide a service to the reader by not only notifying them, but also by providing a thorough perspective and background of each event. Additionally, this blog hopes to do justice to the creators and contributors of each event by conveying the messages of the artists, acknowledging the work of the curators, and displaying the responsibilities of the social media developers. In its totality, this blog will serve as web-documentation of the underground art world, particularly through the eyes of New York’s youth.
The targeted demographic for this blog is anyone who lives in New York and is constantly seeking new and innovative art events to attend. While there is no particular age group that is being targeted, because art can be appreciated by a person of any age, it would be ideal to have a set of followers from ages 18-25 for the simple reason that most of these events are being created and reported by people within this age group. Therefore, this age bracket might be more enticed by a blog like this. Although, the blog will welcome anyone who is interested!
The need for a blog like this lies in the fact that no-one is out there reporting on the youth of New York and the measures they are taking to showcase their talents and art. This blog will aim to illustrate these measures in the hopes of giving them a voice, especially in a field that’s constantly being monopolized by richer and more well-known entities. These unique individuals are making brands of themselves, and while they are active on their social media websites, they are lacking attention from media entities separate from their own. That’s where this blog comes in. Moreover, this blog is needed to connect these events with the people who seek them out.
While there are plenty of art blogs in New York, they generally tend to lack a journalist approach. Because this blog will be written by me, a journalism student, it will incorporate not only observations but analysis and reporting as well. This blog will also have an advantage because I possess a strong network of young artists and curators whom I am personally acquainted with, so there will always be content readily accessible for the blog. I can also provide a thorough understanding of the events, because I attend them frequently.
The content on this blog will utilize every social media site out there, such as RSS, facebook sharing, instagram, and twitter, meaning, they can be shared with ease on said sites to gain readership. Aside from a calendar of upcoming events, the content will also include articles, videos and pictures of events, podcast interviews, and questionnaires and polls displaying the opinions of the attendees. It will also provide direct links to pages containing event information, as well as the artist’s pages in the hopes of getting them more exposure. This added aspect will entice many underground artists to participate with interviews.
Other art blogs do not always utilize the multimedia at their disposal, this blog will though, because it aims to provide a full scope of every topic discussed. Every event will have its own identity on this blog and that will surely be representative of the artists, curators, and attendees. Many art blogs will sometimes provide reviews, but they rarely conduct interviews with the people responsible for creating said events. This is where my blog has a competitive advantage. Some blogs might also be biased based on the art that is being presented, focusing, for example, only on modern art, or classical art, but my blog will cover all types of art, and all mediums, including photography, break dancing, street art, and many others.

Editorial Plan

• The types of content I want to incorporate in this blog include

-feature stories about art events and the people involved (1-2 weekly, about 500-800 words, 2-3 hours)

-profiles on artists (1 weekly, 500-600 words, 2-3 hours)

-reviews on the shows/events (updated every time a story revolves around a particular event, 200-300 words, 1 hour)

-a newsfeed allowing people to comment and interact with fellow attendees

-a calender stating upcoming shows

-daily art inspiration quotes, similar to a tweet (1 daily, 45 seconds)

• Ideally, I would update feature stories about once a week, similarly for profiles and the longer journalistic pieces. The reviews would be more frequently, depending on how many events I attend, although the readers also have an opportunity to review and discuss amongst themselves in the comment feed. The calender would be updated as soon as I find out about any upcoming shows.

• Ideas/people I plan on interviewing include

-Inspiration in the Cut art shows, Demi Vera (curator/artist)

-Breakfresh NYC events, Jose Riviera (b-boy)

-Royce Choice (artist)

-DJ VIC (DJ)

• Multimedia includes

-Photos

-podcasts

-videos

-slideshows

Report and write your first post. You now have your mission statement. You have an editorial plan. Time to get started.

For this first post, you will find and interview a person who is doing something interesting related to your blog’s mission – or you will cover an event related to your blog’s topic, interviewing at least two people for the post.

You will write a blog post – 400 words.

You will include at least three hyperlinks.

You will take a photo to illustrate your post.

You will email me your post as a Word document before class on Monday, Oct. 6.

Mission Statement

Right Sports – Writing about Ethics in the World of Sports

Sports is entertainment. Sports is news. It is one of the biggest businesses in America, and it quite frankly could be the most popular field. Billions of people every day devote parts of their lives to sports. With an endless fan base, it is an area in which needs better coverage outside of the box score. The purpose of this blog would be to cover issues regarding sports in a perspective focusing on legal issues and moral principles.

The blog can be a place that fans go to read about sports without statistics. The features will take the biggest headlines and break it down to the average citizen. A Professional Athlete is one that many wish they can trade places with. By taking the issues regarding ethics and moral codes from some of the world’s most well-known individuals, a fan would be able to read to understand the economical and sociological effects caused by the acts their idols committed. The content will basically form a sporting news column, in which emphasizes away from games, winners and losers.

Stories will focus on headlines outside of the arena. Instead of analyzing what went on the courts, articles will be on issues being taken to court. This blog will provide readers with the opportunity to be informed about the violations being made by professional athletes, whether it be legal or moral. The blog posts’ will be simplified so any sports fanatic will be able to understand the issues going on. They will gain insight onto how the smallest of crimes can impact the largest parts of society.

Some of the biggest legal and ethical issues- include what is good sportsmanship? What can be considered cheating in sports, and why is it allowed? The matter of performance enhancing drugs and the impacts it has had both in the present and past. The economics of sports pertaining to high salaries, salary caps, and sales. And lastly the presently most headlined issue of domestic violence.

In order to provide the insight needed for creating such posts, professionals working in the field of sports and experts on  various topics will be sought after. Being located in the local New York City provides an advantage, as league offices for all of the Major Sports are within the city.  Also info can be obtained on basic law and moral principles by speaking to law professors. Advice from Psychology  professors can also assist when it comes to learning about issues such as domestic violence. Lastly, another source would be college athletes and coaches themselves. Being apart of the sports atmosphere already, they will be able to provide opinions on areas that very well relate to themselves.

The target audience will be to all fans, but in particular to adult males, within an age range of 18-35. This range is the common age of both professional athletes and their supporters. A 23 year old male will be able to read about another 23 year old who had the golden ticket, but then ruined his career by doing something dumb. Besides covering how violations impact media and society, the posts’ will provide insight comparisons to their target audiences in hopes that they can prevent doing similar ethically and morally wrong issues.

There is a need for this blog because traditionally Sports coverage is mainly on what went on during an event. As a society now, we are going through a lot of changes with sports being so popular. Kids from all backgrounds and ages, can tell you who their favorite stars are in the NFL, NBA, and MLB. Most adults in fact have a favorite sports team or player in which they follow daily. Billions of dollars are spent every year on sports, and the truth is athletes are human beings too and they make mistakes. But the main difference is when they mess up it is brought to light and everyone is aware of it. This blog is needed because fans deserve the right to know what is right from wrong. They need to fully understand and grasp the impacts and effects, so that they can inform others especially the youth.

Content on this blog will be mainly features on what legal issues, ethical issues, and media laws were violated by someone or something pertaining to sports. This year alone there has been so many matters that have occurred and they simply get forgotten when another instance happens. The main intention of this blog is to take the violated principles and provide content that comprehends onto why these things should not take place in our society, nevertheless take place in front of the eyes of billions of viewers. Suggestion pieces can also be made to implement how to better our top sport organizations.

The fact that this blog will be based on law and codes, asides from facts itself will set this blog away from others. Most Sport Blogs cover team/player updates and news, this blog can take that news and comprehend it to society to create awareness. With sports being such a broad topic, it is necessary being informed about ethically issues going on.

News coverage regarding sports is something that can be found in practically every outlet. Whether it be newspapers or online, there will be content covering similar topics. Although the focus of many Sporting News sources isn’t ethics, there is articles published about this. Ethics is something in which should get its own coverage and this blog would be able to provide that.

The blog site- youkantbeserious.com, is one that is similar in idea. But it lacks content and updated info. The blog is created on the emphasis of controversy in sports, which in fact is related to the ethics of sports. Another similar blog is sportsethicist.com, and it is run by college professor. His blog seems to run on a similar basis in idea, but it too can go quite some time without updates. Every single day there is a sporting event, and almost every day an ethical issue can arise. This blog intents on staying on top of all of them whether it be too big or too small.

Editorial Plan

Types of Content:

-Headlines (Moral Alerts): These will be brief posts updating on daily events.

-At least twice daily

-Features (Bad Behaviors): These posts’ within the blog will all follow a consistent format. They will all be of similar length at about 5-10 paragraphs. The main focus of the blog would be to take the coverage of events within the sporting world, and highlight the issues relating to ethics that occur. Occasionally there will be some Q&A’s from the various interviewees, but the bulk of the content will depend on knowledge gained through different experts.

-1 to 2 weekly

-Web & Social Media Rehashed: These posts’ will be an analysis of what the internet is saying regarding relating issues in a multimedia format. They will contain a run-through of what the top news organizations are saying in their posts.

-1 to 2 weekly

-Real life Comparisons (Same Sneakers): These will be the lengthy features that detail an in-depth summary of moral/ethical issues in sports. The best part is that these articles will be focused on informing the reader on why the athlete wasn’t right. They will learn of the impacts left on society by the actions of what goes on regarding sports.

-Once a week

Frequency of a Post:

-Ideally I would like to post onto the blog daily with the headlines being a sort of a status update. Sporting events whether it be in America or the rest of the world take place every day. Almost daily there is an ethical issue that arises. For the main posts I feel like it would be a good idea to split them up half and half for the beginning and ends of the week. This way content will be fresh in a matter of days.

Creating a Post:

Headline: About a minute

Feature: Less than 2 hours

Web & Social Media Rehashed: 2-3 hours

Comparisons: 2-3 hours

Ideas:

. Sportsmanship

. Cheating

. Drugs

. Domestic Violence

. Economics

List of People to Interview:

– College Professors at Baruch College

. Law Department

. Psychology Department

– National Football League Compliance and Ethics Headline

. Provides assistance for ethical activities happening in the League

– Matthew Gould

.Vice President of Corporate Communications for MLB Advanced Media

– NFL/NBA League Office’s located in NYC

– College Coaches/ Athletes at St. Johns & Rutgers

– High School/ Little League Coaches

Mission statement: 

This blog will focus on the every day commuter college student. The blog will explore these students’ everyday travels; such as delays in train service. This blog will attempt to provide an in-depth look at the pros and cons by hearing directly from students. Other issues that will be addressed include, how students adjust when they transfer from a big university and campus to a small commuter school. This blog is relevant because I believe many New York City students can relate to it. For example, Baruch is a commuter school. Although we do have dorms however, they are off campus. So it is still at least a 15 minute commute to school each day. Baruch’s dorms are also not just limited to Baruch students; we share the building with about three other schools. This blog targets local residents, incoming students, as well as freshmen or transfers who are new to the commuter student community. Some of the content that this blog will include will be photos from some daily commutes, Q&A’s, maps and useful tips. I will also try to provide transit information to help students plan their trips accordingly if they may have to take an alternate route.  I don’t think this is a highly covered topic, so in my opinion I believe that’s what separates this blog from the others. Also, as the publisher of the blog I feel as if I am a credible source; I am a commuter student. I did read two other blogs covering this topic. One focused on giving tips to help commuter students feel academically and socially fulfilled. Another one that I read, The Commuter Student, focused on the loneliness of a commuter student. Not engaging in any campus activities, and having high school friends who are away for school. Those are issues that are universal so I plan to cover them as well. I would also like to include a feature that allows my audience to let their voice be heard in a “letter to the editor” piece. In short, this blog will give students who commute information that will make life as a commuter easier and enlighten them on ways to make a small campus feel big.

Editorial Plan:

Types of content:

My plan is to write brief post similar to a tweet in the mornings updating the reader of transit info prior to their morning commute.

I will also include much larger detailed pieces with interviews with students and activities taking place on campus.

I also plan to include feature pieces stories from transfer students whom experienced campus life and commuter life.

Break Down The Numbers:

Shorter post 140+ words; longer posts 500+ words

Time To Create Post:

Approximately 2-3 hours

Frequency of Updates: 

Brief post everyday

Longer post 1-2 times a week, ideally at the start and end of each week

Possible Interviewees:

Joshua Gener – transfer student

Sheridan Taylor – Baruch student living in the dorms

A social psychology professor because they deal with attitudes and behaviors of individuals and how situations may influence them

Multimedia:

Videos/podcast covering interviews

Photos from Staten Island Ferry riders and subway passengers

Photos of events at Baruch

Specific Story Ideas:

The closing of  25th street to create the plaza at Baruch. How that gave Baruch more of a campus feel.

Blog mission statement

I have called the area in New York City known as Spanish or East Harlem my “home” since having a working memory. To simply call the neighborhood I took my first steps in “different” than the neighborhood I live in now, is so far of an understatement it almost seems offensive. The statement “I live in Spanish or East Harlem” did not have the same connotation ten years ago, arguably even five years ago. My goal is to have people walk past a certain restaurant, apartment building, or particular street located in Spanish Harlem and either not think of it the same way after reading my blog, or see this site for the first time and be interested in exploring after reading about its history or significance. I want to document some observations about comparing the gentrifying neighborhood seen today to its roots.

For those who have just discovered this pocket of deeply embedded culture in this new wave of popularization that comes from the gentrification thats been taking place, a lot of people may assume the neighborhood has always been the way its been. This blog will feature different posts that reflect upon different aspects of what it means to say “I live in Spanish Harlem”. On the surface, visible differences such as different buildings, parks, businesses will be explored. But what is more important to this reflection is the changes in culture, community, demographic, and what Spanish/East Harlem means to the rest of the city who don’t live or maybe have never even been here.

My blog will feature community perspectives on the changes happening to Spanish Harlem. Through communicating with people that have lived in the neighborhood since before the changes began appearing (like I have), and with new residents, I hope to get a well rounded and diverse public opinion on the gentrification concept. Using photo and video to interview business owners, residents, and even visitors, I hope to create the first blog to voice the opinion specific to Spanish Harlem on the reactions that the city has created.

My target audience focuses on anyone that has an interest in this unique and beautiful neighborhood. Through the use of text, and photographs, I hope to incite critical thinking within the readers who come across this blog, whether they have a connection to Spanish Harlem like I do, or if they have yet to set foot in the neighborhood. With those who have lived here and have seen the changes in Spanish Harlem, I hope to bring a sense of nostalgia and remind people of certain buildings that are no longer there, or make them feel like they are not the only people that remember a certain part of Spanish Harlem that resonated with them. And for those who don’t know as much about the culture and history of Spanish Harlem, I hope to bring an interest in the history of the different changes that make it what it is today.

My understanding of the changes Spanish Harlem has seen and will continue to see is that initially these changes were insidious, but still unnoticeable. But as soon as the wheels started moving in the transformation process, the changes grew exponentially. Growing up, I had to prepare myself for the walk out of a station in fear of being robbed or attacked because of a lack of safety and attention given by the city. Now, there is a cafe on the same block I’ve lived in my whole life, with overpriced coffee drinks, like on every other street in Williamsburg. This blog pays respect to both the good and the bad in the neighborhood that used to exist, as well as the one that exists today. It is important to understand the history behind anything if one wishes to understand its present state.

I am excited to revist different locations and share my knowledge of different buildings, stores, streets, and the changing community. By looking at a building, it is impossible to tell what once stood there but was transformed, but I will be featuring different memories I have of different locations within the neighborhood in regards to how it has become part of the entire gentrification movement.

The people are what bring a geographical mass of land to life, by feeding it culture and a sense of community. The term “gentrification” means different things for different people. Many factors weigh in on a person’s opinion on gentrifying a neighborhood. Real estate agents and business can see gentrification as a trendy bandwagon and profitable opportunity. Individuals seeking residence can see it as a new and exciting experience. But for those who have been a part of a neighborhood that was once neglected, now suddenly becoming popularized for all the wrong reasons, it incites outrage, frustration, and resistance. The “El Barrio Tours” movement began as a group of individuals combatting the transformations to their home and the culture in Spanish Harlem they have loved for so long. The group currently has a blog that features different group activities and events, as well as why it is so important that gentrification be stopped. My blog will not be biased against or for gentrification, but instead, will accept the changes and provide an unbiased history of interesting things that have changed throughout the years. So far, El Barrio Tours is the only blog that speaks about the changing/gentrifying neighborhood, but has no interest in promoting the new changes to the community, and are fixated on the past. My blog will be incorporating both the new and the old, as well as the good and the bad of the different eras in East Harlem’s history.

Putting all biases aside, this is still the place I live in, and the place I’ve had to learn to adapt to. I may be unable to help what happens to the neighborhood, but I can offer insight on the changing neighborhood that is unique to someone who has walked the same streets, waited at the same train station, and called the same place home for 19 years. I love this pocket of culture that is so prominent and still so visible, but the changes have also brought a sense of excitement and refreshment to see so many more people discover and love my home, even if the reasons are not necessarily the same, it is undeniable that Spanish Harlem has been put on the radar for the first time. With El Barrio Tours and the anti-gentrification groups that have started with gentrification, they understandably oppose new residents and people who see their culture as a trend. But at the end of the day, I’m excited to share my experience of living and growing up here with more people, because it is a beautiful place to see and live in. There isn’t another place on this planet that I can call home like I do for Spanish Harlem. But my home is different now, for better and for worse, and I hope to share the process of transformation and changes that I’ve had the privilege of experiencing and have the knowledge to reflect on.

EDITORIAL PLAN-
OVERVIEW

Types of Content:

A different establishment will be featured in each post, all with its each unique significance to the community, and the neighborhood’s history. As a life long East Harlem resident, not many other blogs can offer the same type of insight that can only come with seeing changes to the community over the 19 years I’ve had a working memory. The same streets I have walked to the train station may have been the same geographically, but could not have seen a more rapid transition due to the city’s plans for gentrifying the neighborhood. Each post to this blog will show a certain building, establishment, or street that can be visited today, but will be contrasted to my memory of what stood there previously. The blog will also feature the visible changes and plans that are currently underway to further alter the neighborhood, that speak directly on the inevitable transformation to Spanish Harlem. I hope to represent the culture that this neighborhood is founded on, while at the same time, reflect on the changes seen within the past decade (since the idea of gentrification was first introduced to the neighborhood).

The posts made on this blog will feature picture with text, but I also hope to add occasional video of the neighborhood, offering a visual tour of the community and its people. As a video editor and shooter for the past three years, I am so excited to show readers the place I grew up in, and the place I live in now, and be able to reflect on the differences between two ends of the spectrum. The videos I hope to create will give a tour as well as interviews with people on changes in the neighborhood, from both new residents and people who have been in the neighborhood before all these changes started appearing exponentially.

Number of Updates:
Posting will be frequent, as there are so many different businesses, streets, and buildings that have come and gone within the past few years. My goal is to update the blog with:

2 pieces of photo and text per week, featuring a different building/street/area of spanish harlem to be discussed in context of gentrification.
1 interview with a resident/business owner per week, varying in photo and video
1 EDITED video of a street in Spanish Harlem, giving a visual tour of the neighborhood.

Multimedia Reporting:
By using photo and video to capture the visible changes to the community, I want to give readers a visual tour of the neighborhood. Interviews will also be conducted with locals within the area, which will be done using photo and video.

Recurring Content:
Each week will feature a different person being interviewed on the neighborhood. This section of the blog will vary in the type of people interviewed and the role they play within the community, such as residents, business owners, real estate agents, etc…