11/30: Pictures taken of Sarasota for my 'South Florida EXCURSION' issue over my recent holiday break

'Insert' of a Lido Beach sign to give readers a sense of location.

'Vertical Wide Shot' of the Street of St. Armand's Circle to portray an idea of place and to show a restaurant featured in our magazine, Daiquiri Deck.

'Horizontal Long Wide Shot' intended to give readers the opportunity to see Lido Beach on fairly wide scale, almost as if every aspect is captured within this photo.

'Insert' of VW Van with Spongebob along St. Armand's Circle intended to add humor to this travel magazine.

This bay overlooks the Marina Jack Restaurant by Downtown Sarasota. This 'Wide Shot' is meant to encompass as much of the atmosphere as I can do for the readers, again allowing them to get a better glimpse of Sarasota, our featured south Florida location.

Another 'Wide Shot' to encompass the entirety of the main entrance to the famed AMC Mall and its shoppers towards the Venice end of Sarasota. This allows me to better communicate how many people come here, as I can show all of them using this shot as well.

'Wide Shot' of the AMC Movie Theatre in the AMC Mall. The decor is interesting to me, very eye-catching, and therefore, I wanted to use this shot so that I could capture that for readers. This type of shot also conveys how busy the mall is because I can fit more people in the frame.

'Wide Shot' and 'Insert' of the Unconditional Surrender statue located in Downtown Sarasota. The 'Wide Shot' is meant to broadcast to readers that it is indeed a popular tourist attraction in the area because it has made me capable of showing these tourists. The 'Insert' shows them the statue.

'Canted Mid-Shot' of the Asolo Theatre located in Northern Sarasota. The 'Mid-Shot' allows for one to read the words on the photo such as, Asolo Rep and West Side Story that convey place and meaning of place, such as the fact that this fancy building is a playhouse. The image is 'canted' so that the readers will most likely assume that they have to look harder at the particular photo if they intend to ever understand it. They then will have to read the words that I want them too in the photo.

11/30: House Style Revisited

Today, my partner and I reviewed the house style we had come up with and I had initially put together using Microsoft Publisher technology.

She approves!

11/28: House Style Rough Draft

Today, I created my overall house style on the Publisher software, by Microsoft Office.

Unfortunately, the whole process had taken me awhile because I was quite unfamiliar with the technology. Evidently, while my partner and I had each helped to come up with the house style, I decided that my role in this group would be to initially put it together. My partner is out of town on holiday, but once school starts up again, I intend to show this to her and see whether she likes it.

This first picture is the cover page. The only thing left for me to add is some pictures I must take of Sarasota for this particular issue, attached by a paperclip or a piece of tape to make it seem as if someone, by hand, had put it on---again, really striving towards an authentic feel for our south Florida travel magazine. The words there so far, I made myself on wordle.net.

This second picture is actually page 2 (left) where the Table of Contents will go, and page 3 (right) where the one page article will go. My partner and I, to keep the house style intact, will have to meet up at a later time in order to discuss what will appear on these pages. 

11/24: My Original CoverArt For My Sarasota Issue Created Using Wordle.net

11/23: My Interview (Tourist) Answers

Questions Posed to Tourists:
           1. What are some of the most important reasons that you have decided to come to Sarasota, FL for vacation?
           2. Which Sarasota attractions has captivated your attention most of all?
           3. What was your favorite local restaurant?
           4. And would you come back again?

Interview Answers for Tourist One:
          1. "To bask in the sun and escape the harsh winters of Connecticut with my kids."
          2. "The "Kissing Statue." It portrays two strangers kissing after hearing that World War 2 has been won by the Allies. One is a nurse and one is sailor---based on the famous photograph."
          3. "O'Leary's" at Island Park
          4. "Yes, I come here to vacation every year! My children love it!"
          ---Shoshannah Francis, Mother of 7

Interview Answers for Tourist Two:
          1. "To see family."
          2. "The beaches and the women."
          3. "Columbia on St. Armand's Circle, because I'm classy."
          4. "For sure, because I have family to see."
        ---George Holiday, A Family man

Interview Answers for Tourist Three:
          1. "I love the water, the artsy element to the city, and the shows presented at the 'Van Wezel' and at the 'Players Theater'. My late husband, just adored these places"
          2. She says with a denture-bearing smile, "Everything I just described would just about do it!"
          3. "The Toasted Mango"
          4. "Yes, in fact, I will be journeying back to Sarasota. I cherish the place far too much not to, and I own a summer home here. I am certainly what the townspeople here would call a true 'snow-bird!'"
        ---Doris Watson, Retired Widow

11/19: My Interview (Sarasota Local) Answers

Questions Posed to Locals:
           1. How long have you lived in Sarasota?
           2. Do you like the year-round hot weather?
           3. What is your favorite thing to do for fun around here?
           4. Overall, do you like living here?

(Local) Interview One Answers

1. "Whole life"
2. "I only like it in the summer. Wish we had a winter. Never seen the leaves change and snow."
3. "Kayakking in the Mangrove Trails"
4. He winked, "Yes."
    ---Sarasota High School Senior, Camden Jeffrey

(Local) Interview Two Answers

1. "7 years."
2. "Yes."
3. "I like the shows best."
4. "I like Sarasota! Yes."
    ---Elderly Resident, Sara E. Reed

(Local) Interview Three Answers

1. "Five years."
2. "I love it! However, my AC does tend to cost me quite a bit of money in the summer months."
3. "The Ringling Art Museum, for sure. It's free to the public on Monday and everything from the diverse art to the gardens are just magnificent to see."
4. "Aside from the Republicans who try to run this town, I really am quite fond of the place."
---45 year old, Quentin Marshall

11/17: Interview Notes for My 'South Florida EXCURSION' Issue: Sarasota, FL

--> I will want to interview (2) local residents and (2) tourists
--> I can do this during Thanksgiving Break or during a coming weekend

Questions I will ask:

     (Tourist)
           1. What are some of the most important reasons that you have decided to come to Sarasota, FL for vacation?
           2. Which Sarasota attractions has captivated your attention most of all?
           3. What was your favorite local restaurant?
           4. And would you come back again?

      (Local)
           1. How long have you lived in Sarasota?
           2. Do you like the year-round hot weather?
           3. What is your favorite thing to do for fun around here?
           4. Overall, do you like living here?

Locations:

          1. School and Work (All ages of Sarasota locals thrive here. Also, I am well acquainted with quite a few who I know would be glad to take an interview from me, as I have established credibility with them)
          2. The Siesta Key/Lido Beaches
          3. Sarasota Downtown

11/16: The Road to Digitaliztion: Contemporary newspaper and/or magazine publishing, including the ways in which the web is raising issues for the production, distribution and consumption of print media.

  Having been requested by my Media Studies instructor and the AICE syllabus to write something pertinent to, "contemporary newspaper and/or magazine publishing, including the ways in which the web is raising issues for the production, distribution and consumption of print media," this is what I shall dedicate my latest blog post to.

  According to an essay written by a prominent, retired American TV historian and executive, Tim Brooks, the road to digital from print in regards to the publishing of magazines has been a difficult one to say the least.

   This is because magazine publishers are now having to strive to cater to readers on not just a straightforward conventional platform, but on a digital platform as means for additional profit. This kind of transformation can be a very exacting process for magazine publishers. Magazine publishers also have no way of knowing just how many readers will end up viewing their webpage pertaining to digital publication methods, whereas in regards to conventional publication, such as print, these magazine publishers will have a very good idea of just how many people will read their magazine and therefore, a good idea of just how much profit they will rake in from ads.

Taking these difficulties into consideration, my partner and I both agree that we would like to keep it conventional, relying on ads and consumers for profit. This will also enhance the authenticity of our 'bookish' layout.

11/11: Planning Our Magazine (Layout and Title)

  Today, my partner and I decided we ought to first look at other travel magazine layouts in an effort to select a house style for the issues we will each be responsible for producing for the exam.

Below, are three examples of travel magazine layouts that my partner and I liked. 

***All graphics from Google Images (2015)***

After discussing these examples further, we both decided that the last picture, the notebook style, would suit us and our premise on South Florida travel much better than the first two options for magazine layout that we had previously come up with. This is simply because the notebook aspect brings about a real feeling of 'authenticity' to the piece since it gives an impression that you are reading actual notes from one's travel journal.

Because this particular notebook layout for the magazine gives off an impression of authenticity to perspective readers, it will then provide this travel magazine with an implicit blanket of credibility, even though it will have only recently been thrust headfirst into circulation and is not necessarily well-known. Credibility is essential, especially if you are trying to get people to visit certain places. This is because they cannot make any decision from your magazine unless they believe you because it is focused on travel, which of course requires one's time and money.

As for the title for our magazine, we have come up with, "South Florida EXCURSION."

On the cover will be a 'wordle,' a graphic that uses many words revolving around the same theme and artistically arranges them on the page for each issue to use as a house style. There may be a picture of our particular place for the issue attatched with a paper clip, furthering the authentic appeal. Inside, there will be more a Journal appeal to stimulate a traveler's log. This is why my partner and I decided that we would want to use a standard size for our magazine.

11/09: My Decision: Magazine or Film?

      From looking at the positive and negative aspects of producing a magazine rather than a film, or vice versa, I have come to the decision that I will be choosing a magazine as my medium for my AICE Media Studies Exam.

      I will work with my friend Amber. Each of us will labor to produce an individual issue of our magazine and work to collaborate on a house style and on content (table of contents, articles, running pieces, interviews, etc.) which we aim to start doing this week. Our premise will be focused on South Florida travel and it will consist of a target audience of adults with the means and interest to travel. The first issue will be on Sarasota, Florida since this is where the two of us reside. There is also quite a bit of tourist attractions here, whether it be in the beaches, art museums, downtown, etc. The final issue will be on Sanibel Island in Fort Myers, Florida because both of us have been before and it is a known tourist attraction.

     We will distribute this magazine online only and we will collect money through advertisements and page views.

11/09: Would a film be a good fit for me? Why or why not?

       A film could be a potential fit for me. One reason happens to be that the final product is merely intended to be two minutes in length, as it is to serve as an opening. A magazine, on the other hand, happens to require more than an opening. To me, an opening is really a title page of contents...enough said. However, a magazine will not only request a title page coupled with a table of contents, but rather an additional article---per person, per issue, while maintaining an equivalent house style. Further, there is also additional software that is required if one is to set out to create a living, breathing magazine that I am not aware of just yet.

       Although, there are issues with choosing to make a film as well that were described in my previous blog post that arise due to my particular skillsets. The act of filming with various shots, angles, and editing, is truly a foreign and highly tedious process in my opinion. The writing in the magazine, I feel, would exemplify my skillsets better in this regard. Finally, films require more people in contrast to a magazine. (Actors, Writers, Directors, Editors)

11/03: First Blog Entry Ever: Magazine Pros and Cons

       There are pros and cons that come with choosing to produce a magazine for the AICE exam rather than a brief video. To commence, a magazine is a great idea for me, simply because writing is one of my greatest strengths. Magazines rely on solid writing and fortunately for me, solid writing happens to be my forte. Another great reason for me to choose a magazine as my project medium happens to be that I will not need to research various shots and angles that comes with filming. (This can be a very tedious process.) Finally, a magazine is a great fit for me because there will be less people to worry about over the duration of the process. For example, in a video, there is an entire cast, writer(s), producer(s), editor(s) and a director. However, a magazine merely requires writers, editors, and interviewees.

       While there are enough perquisites to using a magazine rather than a video for the AICE exam, magazines also come with cons as well. This is due to the fact that it will be more verbose than a brief video because it will contain multiple issues (if there is to be more than one in a group) and written articles within it. A final con would be that I will have to learn a whole set of technology when it comes to creating a magazine; I am already well aware of how to use a video camera and I could even utilize my cellular device instead...it is the shots and making of a film that I mentioned before that I consider not to be one of my strong suits.

       In summation, there are indeed pros and cons that accompany the choosing of a magazine for use as a medium on the AICE exam, as oppose to a brief video submission.