Progress Updates
Journal Entries
Photo by Jess Bailey on Unsplash
Week 1
Wow, my major project. Where do I begin? I literally have no idea what I want to look at. There are so many avenues I could take but not many that I would REALLY enjoy making, to be honest. I got allocated into Industry Portfolio Journalism which was my first choice, granted but although I’m a journalism major, I am not the biggest lover of hard news. I find it so mundane, repetitive, and not what I’m looking for. I know Felicity (who is our staff director for this project, has said in the outline there are so many mediums that can be taken. Film, podcasts, long-form feature, multi-media story. But for some reason, I am always stuck in an area of journalism where nothing really picks my fancy. I mean I like writing but chasing a news story I know will just leave me uninterested. I have consulted mum for some advice. She is pondering her thoughts.
I feel like I am back to my HSC major project in Art. Literally just coming up with a major project from scratch. No outline or guidance just me and my thoughts. Once I know what I need to do and the idea is there, I’m great but without an idea, I struggle to search for it. I mean it’s only week one. From the tutorials we have had so far for our projects with Helena I have been getting the feeling that we need to be critical and reflective. But what do I have to reflect on in week 1? My lack of ideas or any idea what this last semester of uni will bring me. With classes online for the foreseeable future, I am lacking creativity and imagination, but something will spark and until it does, stay tuned.
Week 2
This week we all got an email regarding a socially distanced meeting at the new Q building. Sadly I couldn’t go because I was working but I did hear that it was productive. As there weren’t many people who could attend Felicity decided to set up a zoom for next week at 1 pm on Wednesdays. I don’t have uni classes on Wednesdays so this will work well. In regards to ideas, I am still in the same place. During our project tutorial this week, Helena put us in break-out rooms with some of our peers to discuss some questions regarding the progress of our projects. This is helpful to get a gauge of what everyone else is doing however I still feel stuck. Before Semester 2 began, I was under the impression that the major projects course was all individual-based under no real staff direction. Now that we are under staff direction I am happy in a way but also kind of disappointed that our projects are not all individually pursued.
On the idea front, I am still wondering what would be the best way to outlet my ideas and what will provide something that I am proud of and that I enjoyed making. In the tutorial this week, it becomes clear that a media project would be hard. Some of my peers that discussed ideas in the tutorial were struggling with filming and interviewing as the pandemic seems to be leaving its mark once again. This is having a significant impact on what we will and will not be able to pursue. As I forge ahead with my ideas, I will have to think about this. I don’t want to make more work for myself but I also don’t want to settle on something because it’s easy or comfortable. I guess we’ll see what happens.
Week 3
This week I definitely feel that I have made the most progress so far. As the weeks start to creep by, I am realising that the sooner I have my idea down pat, the sooner I will be able to nut out the finer details and create a timeline that will keep me accountable throughout the semester. This week during my Tuesday tutorial we went through the final report that would include our documentation of our project (what I’m doing here funnily enough). There were ideas getting thrown around regarding formats and while a lot of people sticking to a few core ideas, Helena, as well as others, did suggest a newspaper or magazine look format that would engage viewers and speak from what area of communications I am part of. While for my documentation I don’t really want to follow this format and route, this sparked an idea in me. I have an idea to do a 16-page ‘zine.’ This is essentially a mini-magazine that is both achievable and substantial as a final project. I want to focus this zine on a feminist perspective, possibly combing feminism and fashion. I understand print media, especially magazines struggle in today's society with all formats are slowly turning digital faster and quicker than ever. However, at this moment I feel that this is what I want to pursue. There will be 5 feature articles as a double spread which will take up 10 pages of the zine. The remaining 6 pages will be graphics and illustrations that I can create on the Adobe Creative Cloud Suite, as this is something I feel competent in and confident that would be produced in the way I want.
When I think about Journalism, there is so much more to just writing that I enjoy in the area. The layouts, graphic design, and each aspect that creates a magazine make me just excited as the next. This week was the first week we had a group discussion with everyone in the Industry Portfolio Journalism check-in. There is a real mix of stories and people within this group. There are around 12 of us each chasing individual journalistic stories. I ran the zine idea past Felicity and she seemed excited by this and supportive which I really appreciated. Although it’s only in its early stages, I will continue to reel my ideas into a clearly articulated idea but I am excited for what next week will bring.
Week 4
This week feels a lot like last week. I have a general idea for what I want the zine to follow and I know the idea in my head that I want to produce but this isn’t always the easiest to explain to other people. This week in our project tutorial on a Tuesday Helena put us in break-out rooms again. It is really interesting to hear what other people are doing and to hear them explain this. There are a lot of people in my tutorial who are feeling the stress of the impacts COVID is having. I feel like I should be the same but I still feel the effects of the zine will be easily adaptable and the pandemic continues its destructive path. This week in Wednesday’s project check-in, I didn’t really have any new updates. Felicity made me come to understand that fashion and feminism are quite broad topics that could take many different avenues and that I really need to focus my attention inward on what I’m trying to say and what I’m really passionate about. There are a couple of people who can’t make the Wednesday 1 pm check-ins so Felicity has made an alternative time on Tuesday mornings. I would rather be with everyone all at once but I understand that this is nearly impossible with 12 varying schedules.
When hearing about everyone else’s ideas with our project group, it seems everyone has pretty set ideas on what they want to complete and these are all pretty hard-hitting journalism. This makes me question the fluidity of my project that could potentially hold little substance in the long run. I am still set on my idea and I am sure that when narrowing down the topics and having a much more concrete outline, I will feel more confident in my idea. Felicity has asked that we ‘unofficially’ pitch our ideas to the group with a detailed outline plan as well as interviewees for moving forward with our projects. A potential route I could take that Felicity suggested is that I make it much more Hunter-focused and look at local boutique owners and possibly fashion designers. I will ponder this however I much prefer the feminist side to that of fashion. I’m definitely going to have to think about this idea carefully and try to accurately describe it so that everyone can see what I am trying to get across.
Week 5
This week I had planned to pitch my idea to Felicity and the group with my online and with having the finer details ironed out. However, after looking at the Hunter-based boutiques and designers and with how broad feminism and fashion could be, I have decided to let go of the fashion idea and try to focus my attention towards a more women’s centered one. During this tutorial, around half the class pitched their ideas and I still feel out of touch with my ideas with no specific direction and ideas for interviewees, etc. I suggested that I could take the route of exploring different women’s issues, possibly taboo topics, and get a sort of perspective on who knows about this. As this is quite vague, Felicity was trying to gauge what direction this could specifically take and the feedback I received from her was still along the lines of nailing down an exact idea. I am aware that the middle of the semester is coming up and with it already being Week 5, I feel as though, having this down-pat by next week would be ideal.
Still struggling with my idea, I did email Felicity regarding how to make it all gel together coherently. She suggested that following the discussion during the check-in, that if I’m still not getting it, I may need to ditch the idea and come back to it. The rest of this week for me has been giving myself a bit of distance from the project to clear my mind and kind of work on the objectives I want to achieve as well as what I have so far. Felicity is also requesting a detailed statement of what I have so far, that would help to understand where I’m coming from. I will work on this on Monday before the zoom. I just need some space!
Week 6
So as Monday rolls around I decide to try to nut out my idea…but for real this time! As mum sits beside me she goes through my ideas with me. I feel that writing things down with a pen and paper is so much more satisfying and lets all the creative juices flow. From this, a detailed plan came about.
As a whole, I am looking at this as an editor of a magazine. Each magazine that is released in the current climate, always has a specific focus and everything within the magazine should include this focus in one way or another. I have titled my zine, 'The Femme Lens' and I want this issue that I am creating to follow the theme of EMPOWERMENT! As you'll see through my selected articles and interviewees, this can come in many forms and perspectives and this is what I am hoping to explore. Below is an outline of the articles I am hoping to produce within the zine. All of these will fill double spreads which means this will fit around 10 pages of the zines, with the remaining 6 (not including front and back cover) consisting of graphics, quotes, photography, and collage.
1. Holistic Healing; How Being in Tune With Our Health Makes Us Stronger - Feature Article
To gain insight on this topic I contacted a Newcastle-based naturopath, Georgia Hartmann, who works on both Indigenous and non-Indigenous women's health, specifically focusing on gut and menstruation health as well paternity health, pre, during, and Post Partum. This article I am hoping is an exploration of a holistic approach to women's physical wellness. Georgia also touches on this through mental health which I will also explore within the piece.
2. Women in Film - How Far Have We Come? A Spotlight on the Film Industry - Opinion Piece
For this particular article, I contacted Dr. Jessica Ford, who is a researcher at the University of Newcastle on women in the film industry. Because of time restraints, she then referred me on to her Honours student Lara Simpson who I have since interviewed, and her Ph.D. student Bridgette Glover who I have contacted and set up an interview time. This piece I find very interesting regarding the stereotypes women have faced both in front and behind the camera in the industry. As well as the visibility of women or lack of that has caused a substantial divide both in Australia specifically but also beyond.
3. Female in Business - The Rise of the Female Entrepreneur - Feature Article
This article is one that I feel has specific proximity not only to the local area of Newcastle but also centers on empowering women in business which has historically being a male-led field. For this article, I have contacted female duo Grace and Alana who are the CEOS and owners of Shag Hair salon in Newcastle. Prior to lockdown Grace and Alana not only employ their own stylists ranging from emerging to seniors but also hold hair workshops for emerging hairstylists from around the state. Since contacting them, they have since agreed to be interviewed and the date will be set towards the start of September, due to time constraints within August.
4. The Queer Community - A Queer Perspective on Feminism Today - Interview-based Feature
This article I feel is specifically important as the queer community holds so much of our daily lives and is often the driving force behind a lot of societal changes and perspectives that were once so traditional and discriminatory. For this article I want the interview to be the basis of the article, this driving the idea of the article. With the others, however, the interviews will aid and help the article but not be the main aspect of which. I have contacted a friend of mine, Kayla Seymour who is a member of the LGBTQIA+ community and has been for about 10 years of her life openly. She is happy to be interviewed and this will be done closer to the production of the article. In similarity to this, I have also contacted Timberlina who is a Newcastle-based drag queen and has also agreed to help in any way she can. From these two outlooks from the queer community, I am hoping to see what they feel their role in feminism is and how they approach an age like ours where so much is continually changing and being fought for.
5. Exercising the Body Means Exercising the Mind - Nerida Bint, owner of Lissome, on refocusing our mindset - Profile Piece
For this profile piece, I am going to profile the owner of my gym. Lissome is a women's only gym located in Carrington which has now spread to Maitland as well. Only recently, the gym turned 7 and owner Nerida (Nez) is super passionate about exercising for mind and body. Exercising for strength rather than just to be 'skinny.' This is something that a lot of women struggle with refocusing their mindset from exercising as punishment, towards rather fuelling your body and mind. Lissome Newcastle and Maitland both have a range of coaches and members ranging in ages, abilities, backgrounds, and knowledge. The inclusion and community that Nez fosters is one that I want to profile and one that I know she is really passionate about and will come across well in the article.
In regards to word count, having these 5 articles at around 500 words each will be around a 2000 word piece as a whole. This disregards, quotes, headlines, bylines, front and back cover, and any extras such as these. If you think one of these articles isn't viable I have also thought of a potential short story or poem that could work as an alternative, of course focusing on the empowerment theme that is filtered through all of the pitched ideas above.
From the interviewees that I have chosen to do, I have since done 3 out of the 8. I have interview Georgia Hartmann, Lara Simpson, and Bridgette Glover.
I was very proud of this statement that I produced. The feedback I got from Felicity was very helpful and I finally feel like I’m on the right track.
During this week's check-in is where I made a detailed outline and pitched this to the class. I am very confident in what I have produced and with what angle of this project I have decided to take. The ‘unofficial pitch’ includes asks questions such as; what is the story, the format that has been chosen how I will research the story, such as the interviewees, the target outlet and audience, as well as resources. This pitch was really well received. The only type of feedback that Felicity did say was the amount of work I have chosen to put on myself. I am aware that this project will likely be a lot of work. But I am also confident in my abilities and proficiency to be able to deliver this on time and of quality. The feedback suggested that if I wanted to get rid of one article due to time constraints she suggested doing this with the rise of the female entrepreneur. This is a much less unique story compared to the others and could be let go. I will keep this in the back of my mind but at this moment I am sticking with the 5 that I have decided on.
Week 7
This week I don’t really have any progress updates regarding my major project, interviews, and progress on what I will submit in the first week. This week was my assigned week to do my presentation during Tuesday’s tutorial with Helena. When looking back on the presentations that started last week and the tutorial the day before mine, I had heard of only getting through a few at a time. This meant that during my allocated tutorial, I was unable to do my presentation and have been pushed back to next week along with other people also. While this is frustrating, this has also meant that I can make some progress that I would have liked to have had done for the initial presentation. The presentation includes a brief overview of my project (like the outline that is in my last progress update). It also has group dynamics or lack of, problem-solving, pivots in the project, the project timeline, and milestones.
During the last few days of this week, I have been thinking about starting a website for the zine but more specifically for afterward. While I have to complete this project, I have thought about the potential this could have as an online blog/magazine and the number of topics and feminist-related perspectives that I could explore. There are so many people's opinions out there other than just my own that would be such a good variety to have and be able to critically understand some of the ideas that float through society. On the website that I have created (where you’re reading this), I will have my blog posts, I have an about me, progress/journal entries, mood boards for inspiration, and contact. I’m really excited for this especially once the semester is over, however, I do know that my main focus at the moment is the zine and how this will come together over the next 6 or so weeks. I’ve got two more weeks of uni before the mid-semester break so let's hope next week I will have some more progress to update you all on!
Week 8
Back again! The last week and a bit has been up and down. My project is still at a minor standstill with interviews and progress. This Tuesday I was hopeful to complete my presentation as I got pushed back to this. However, I have become quite sick and have had to reschedule this presentation until next week. I have completed the presentation and slides but will have to continue to wait to do my presentation until I am better.
Following on from the end of the last progress update, I was hoping to have something to share with you. Maybe some substantial progress has been made but unfortunately, that is not what has happened. I have been extremely fatigued and all appetite has been lost. I have been in and out of bed throughout the last week and am hoping to find out by the end of the week something that will be able to help. I have scheduled my interview with Timberlina for next Monday. I am trying to schedule these in such a way so that by mid-semester break I can spend most of the time writing up all the articles, so the weeks following that I can work on the illustrations and graphics for the zine while also getting feedback from Felicity about the writing side of things. I know that I will be marked on many aspects of the zine, but as a journalist student, I feel the writing will take the most time as well as it needs to be the most advanced and succinct aspect of the zine. As said earlier, there has been limited uni work that has been done but I’m hopeful for a quick recovery in order to stick to the timeline that I have created for myself.
Week 9
By the end of last week and into this week I have been to the doctors and had some blood taken and it turns out I have glandular fever. I have been very fatigued and unable to eat but in the last few days my appetite has come back and I have been completing bits and pieces of uni work where I can. On Monday just gone I pushed myself and did the interview with Timberlina which went great. It is so interesting to gain people’s opinions on different issues and ones, especially those that I cannot relate with or ones that I wasn’t expecting of them. This just makes it more interesting for me when it comes to writing up the pieces. In the last couple of weeks, the check-ins with Felicity have stopped so we are able to go away and work on our projects and come back when we have substantial progress to show her.
Once again my presentation was meant to be the Tuesday just gone but as there has been little improvement in my fatigue and sore throat, Helena has said that I am able to present in Week 10 which has been hard to keep putting off however this is the best thing as it gives me time to get better during the break. One thing that I have been advised of though is that glandular fever is quick to come back whenever I feel rundown or push myself too much, so I am continuing to keep it slow and do as much as I can. As I prepare to enter the 2-week break, I am planning to complete my last two interviews so this can allow me to write the majority if not all of each article. Trying to complete short amounts of uni each day is the way in which I have planned this break. If I do nothing for a week and then put everything that needs to get done in one week, I will not complete what I need to. So trying to stay productive for short amounts of time each day seems to be working the best so far. I’m sure there will be lots more to update you on at the end of week 10 but until then, I’ll be typing away, going to the beach, and sleeping. Have fun in lockdown friends and stay safe!
Week 10
It’s been a couple of weeks but I’m back. Where I left you last was that I was heading into the mid-semester break with lots of work and feeling quite under the weather. And to be honest not much has changed. I am much better physically which I am very happy about but work wise I still have a long way to go. During the break, however, I did get a lot done. All interviews have been conducted so writing out the articles was my first priority during the break. This was something I wanted to take the most time on. As I mentioned before, one reason for this is because as a major project with a focus on journalism, writing will be where I will be seeing most of my marks. In saying this, from coming out of the mid-semester break, I am now quite worried about the details of the layout and graphics, etc.
As a zine, the writing is the foundation of the project but the look, design, and layout are what will draw people in. I am at a standstill with this because I have gauged a good idea of what it should look like through other templates, but can’t seem to be original in my ideas. There is also a worry about wanting to look professional and have it be something that I am really proud of. This week I have been going over my articles for a read-through before they hit the page and then I guess next week we will see what progress I have made on the graphic design elements. Stay tuned!
Week 11
Since the end of last week and after finishing off the written aspects of the zine I have now been quite worried about the graphic elements of the magazine. But last week I found a template online that I like the look of which could be a good one to use as a base and is the type of colours and look that I think would work well with the ‘zine.’ However, this week I have made some big decisions because while I was stuck in the rut of not knowing what to do, I realised that the standstill was more than just a block. I wasn’t passionate about the graphics and layout that I was using and it was authentic to what I was trying to replicate. Since this realisation I have planned the layout and order of the magazine that I want to complete. And while I have stuck to the original ideas planned with Felicity and the basis of what I want to do, I decided that a full-size 26-page magazine would be much more substantial for the major project and would be something I would really be proud of.
With a little bit of time and organisation, I decided on the order of the magazine and what way would be the best way to do this so that it would put the reader at ease and for it to flow well. By extending the magazine by 10 pages, I also added in a few common occurrences in women’s magazines, such as, monthly astrology, a photo spread, what’s hot in the office, a recipe, and some others. After this week and with the plan in my head as well as having nutted out some of the major design aspects and layout I feel that I am ready for the last week leading up to submission.
Week 12
Submission Week
Wow from week 1 I didn’t think week 12 would come so quickly than what it has. Even in week 4 let alone week 1, I had no idea what I wanted to do and I continued to have the vaguest idea even after that. But over the last couple of weeks, I have been slowly chipping away at the project. To produce something like this, completing it didn’t feel like a drag and I never felt like it was a chore to complete and that’s exactly how I wanted to feel doing it. I wanted to be passionate about it and enjoy it. I know if I chose a hard news angle that this fulfillment wouldn’t have come and I am so grateful I have taken the route I did. At the end of last week, Felicity informed us that if we want feedback on the final draft of our work for a sort of proofread, then we should email it to her. This was extremely helpful in picking up spelling and grammatical errors as well as an objective perspective on what reads well and what doesn’t. After receiving the feedback, I also received her acknowledgment for the amount of work that has been put in, and this makes me extremely proud.
I also decided to enter this into Festival X which is the creative industries and communications exhibition that happens at the end of each year. This is a great chance to showcase the student's projects and create something that is ours and ours alone and is something that is unique to each and every student. Throughout this week, I have just been putting on the final touches on both the writing and graphic elements and this is something that while completed during a lockdown and with limited resources, I hope you will enjoy it as much as I loved creating it.
Final Project
The Femme Lens November Issue 2021
The prior weekly progress has been leading up to this final project which is a women's based magazine with success stories local to that of the Newcastle area. This is in hopes to inspire and motivate women in their own career paths. Spotlighting those killing the game!!
