Interview with an Idol

nextBLOG writer Whitney Young interviews Season 7 American Idol Finalist Jason Castro.

Becoming a finalist on American Idol is a lot like becoming a student member of New York Women in Communications.   Both provide up-and-comers-whether an aspiring musician or journalist- great opportunities in their industry. But it still takes talent, passion and drive to reach success.

Season 7 American Idol finalist and recently signed Atlantic Records musician Jason Castro certainly seems to have those.  During our interview at Uno Chicago Grill in Rochester, NY earlier this month, the Rockwall, Texas native explained what he’s been up to since getting voted off during the top 4 of American Idol in 2008.

Castro has worked diligently for over a year on an album he says he can truly be proud of—writing over 50 songs in the mean time.  “It’s a process,” he says, with a chuckle.

The first single off his album, which will be released in early 2010, is “Let’s Just Fall in Love Again,” a perfect reflection of Castro’s personality—upbeat and honest.  The endearing lyrics claim, “I’ll hold your hand when we drive/ And we’ll lose track of all the time/ And we’ll tell everyone that we ain’t never felt so alive.”  The feel-good melody combined with Castro’s smooth vocals make you want to listen to it again and again.

When it comes to the former Idol’s idol, Castro says he’s a fan of both Tom Petty and John Mayer and hopes to emulate their successful careers .   American Idol may have given Castro the opportunities he needs to get there, but now it’s up to him to make the most of them.

~Whitney Young, Journalism major, Monroe Community College ‘12

My Trip to an Authentic Turkish Bath

New NYWICI student member Megan Hess with friends at a Turkish Bath in Istanbul, Turkey

When I joined New York Women in Communications this summer, I dived right in by attending my first event, Ladies Who Laugh, and connecting immediately with fellow student members. Now, as I spend a semester studying in London, I am taking a similar approach to gaining cultural experiences—diving right in and taking advantage of my temporary access to surrounding European countries.

I’ve always been particularly interested in Muslim cultures, so for one of my first adventures, I embarked on a three-day journey to Istanbul, Turkey with a Time Out Istanbul guide and an empty duffel for silk scarves and baklava. I hoped to get by on the little Turkish I knew (Merhaba for hello, and lutfen for please).

New NYWICI student member Megan Hess dons a headscarf with friends inside a mosque.

While in Istanbul, I had many great experiences, including donning headscarves at famous Byzantine-era mosques and sipping apple tea while looking out at the Bosphorus River. But by far the coolest part of my trip was at the Cemberlitas Hamami, a traditional Turkish bath.

The first stage of the bath is basically the Middle Eastern equivalent to a sauna, where I had to lay on a huge marble slab for half an hour so my body would “perspire.” I was jerked out of my steam-induced coma when my masseuse, Lina, whipped off my bathing suit top and began exfoliating my back with pumice and scrubbing it with patchouli-scented foam. Opening my eyes, I saw little bits of black shmutz on my arms and legs — it was, to my disgust, all dead skin that she’d scrubbed off.

Lina motioned for me to flip over to my back, and I was struck with self-consciousness – I was topless! But considering that this would probably be my first and last time in a Turkish bath, I decided to go all the way. After moving to “the hot room,” Lina splashed me with cold water before leading me to the cooling room for relaxation and tea.

In the days of the Ottoman Empire, women wore special silk cloths to cover their bodies, and wooden clogs covered in pearls to prevent them from slipping on the wet floor. I sported a cotton towel and Adidas slip-on sandals. But even with these modern-day adaptations, it was awesome knowing that I was engaging in a ritual performed in the Middle East centuries ago. Finally, I felt connected to a culture I had long admired from a distance.

~Megan Hess, Syracuse University ’11

NYWICI.org: New, Improved, and Dedicated to YOU!

NYWICI.org's new look

Have you visited NYWICI.org recently? The New York Women in Communications website has a whole new look. nextBLOG caught up with Deirdre Wyeth and Gail Griffin, the women who spearheaded the website redesign, about what went on behind the scenes. Turns out, there is a lot of hard work involved!

“The Board decided to re-brand NYWICI a little over two years ago,” explained Wyeth, NYWICI Foundation Board Member and former Co-VP of the Communications Committee. “We wanted to bring the website in line with the new design, but the back-end of the site—the coding—was completely outdated. So instead of making just superficial design changes, we decided to invest the time and money in rebuilding the entire site in a new way.”

The dedicated team also recognizes the importance of maintaining the fresh new site. “We expect that we’ll be doing a lot more updating of the content on the home page with original content that’s written or produced by members,” said Griffin, Vice-President of Marketing and Communications-Editorial/Content on the NYWICI Foundation Board.

Increasing content, according to Griffin, is part of a broader goal for the site. “We hope to better engage existing members by giving them a much clearer view into what’s going on across the organization and having them become more involved,” she said.

Wyeth agreed that drawing in and engaging current and prospective NYWICI members remains a primary objective.

“I want to make sure that people coming to the site understand how much this amazing organization offers, whether you’re a student, a CEO, or a freelance writer,” she said. “The members of NYWICI have a wide array of talents and accomplishments, so why go anywhere else?”

nextBLOG agrees (this blog is even featured on the home page!). Congratulations to Wyeth, Griffin, and all who worked on the redesign team, including Tekla Szymanski, Maria Ungaro, Emily Brochstein, and Brian Getkin.

~Chelsea Orcutt, Syracuse University ’13

Next in Media: CNN Mobile App is #1 Paid App; BusinessWeek May Go to Bloomberg

• The CNN Mobile iPhone app reached number one in the top paid apps chart in its first day on the market, a rare occasion for content apps.  Among free apps, Time Mobile and ESPN Scorecard ranked in the top 20. [minonline]
• McGraw-Hill executives are leaning toward selling BusinessWeek to Bloomberg LP, unless another bidder makes a higher offer worth considering. [Reuters]
• For the first time since Conan O’Brien took over the tonight show, David Letterman won more viewers in the 18-49 age group last week, with guests including Barack Obama, Mary J. Blige, and Bill Clinton. [Bloomberg]
• Layoffs at Conde Nast as a result of the McKinsey consultation could come as soon as the next few weeks or as late as the end of January, depending on the editor and publisher. [New York Observer]
• DailyCandy unveiled a new look last week, now allowing commenters to voice their opinions on the editors’ picks and provide their own restaurant, product and service suggestions. [WWD]

Global Networking: Shifting to Shanghai

I had only been studying abroad in Shanghai for a couple weeks, but I already had a new friend in Candice, a 21-year-old woman who dreams of being an editor.  She took me to lunch at a restaurant I never would have found on my own. It was a brightly lit hall crowded with Chinese students. As we made our way to our seats, I noticed the customers turning and pointing—I looked blatantly foreign.

But the stares didn’t phase me.  After all, the comfort of female friendships can be powerful. New York Women in Communications gave me that sense of community in New York. Now, thanks to my 2009 NYWICI Foundation scholarship, I have the chance to study in Shanghai, a proud city that bursts at the seams with 18.88 million permanent residents and serves as China’s financial capital.  My mission is to find like-minded Chinese women in communications. And in my journey to do so, I’ll be blogging for NYWICInext about networking (or “Guanxi”) and sharing interviews with media professionals.

Often our first instinct as study abroad students is to cling to what we know. We’re worried about language barriers and cultural faux pas. But diving in—whether it’s into an internship, a new culture, or even a relationship—is the best way to find adventures that challenge and change you.  That’s exactly why I was lunching with Candice, with whom I quickly found common ground. She divulged her guilty pleasures, like watching pirated episodes of Sex and the City, and I asked her for some vital Chinese phrases.

The waitress brought us menus, which were written in Chinese. This explained why none of my classmates had been here yet. But I was up for the challenge of a foreign menu. Plus, I had my new friend to help me out. Now, how do you say, “Fried dumplings, please?”

~Carol Kuruvilla, New York University  ‘11

More Tips on Dressing for Success

The panelists at New York Women in Communication’s Cocktails and Conversations event on Sept. 8 had many tips to offer on looking and dressing your best in the workplace. Here’s more of what they had to say:

Fashion and the Office

• Understand your audience when you dress. Will those flip flops really make you look professional to your boss?
• Before an interview, ask Human Resources if there is a corporate dress code.
• Keep three things in your desk for any fashion emergencies: Static Guard, a lint brush, and a hand steamer.
• Update your pictures on social networking sites so you keep your image fresh, but don’t post photos that are highly-retouched or risky. You never know who is looking!

Tricks of the Trade

• Collect dresses!  They are the easiest of fashion solutions. You can throw one on and always look good.
• Match your shoes to your skin tone.  This trick makes legs look longer.
• Add a third element to your outfits – a piece that doesn’t have to be there, like a necklace.
  Be the Best YOU
• Dressing for success is all about confidence.  Style can make us feel more or less confident in ourselves. The way we view ourselves affects how we behave.  Above all, take care of yourself and your appearance.
• Understand your best colors and body type.  It’s not about size; it’s about shape, proportion and balance.  Don’t fight your body.  Embrace it!  Find what works best for you.

~Katie Corrado, Fordham University ‘10
Development Director, nywiciNEXT

EARLIER: How Dressing for Success Makes You a Better Communicator

How Dressing for Success Makes You a Better Communicator

Attendees of Sept. 8's Dressing for Success event at the Sony Wonder Lab learned great style tips from the expert panalists. (Photo Courtesy Mary Anne Russell)

Sept. 9’s Cocktails and Conversations event, moderated by Today Show Style Editor Bobbie Thomas and hosted by New York Women in Communications, helped answer some of the audience’s most pressing fashion, beauty, and style questions. If you couldn’t make it the event, take note of these tips provided by the program’s expert panel: Nancy Berger (Founder & President, Grace Group), Amy Odell (Editor, The Cut, NYmag.com), Eve Pearl (Celebrity Makeup Artist and Consultant), and Suze Yalof Schwartz (Executive Fashion Editor at Large, Glamour Magazine).

For Reccessionistas

• Hair and makeup are some of your best investments.  Take the extra time to learn correct makeup application.
• Shoes and bags also make great investments because of their cost-per-wear.
• Ask a friend to shop your closet and pick three outfits for you.  You may find some new ideas through another set of eyes.
• Use belts to show off trends.  Leopard belts are a great way to add a little pop into a corporate wardrobe.

It’s the Little Things That Count

• Clean nails are important!  Take off chipped dark polish before work.  Nails can also make a statement if you have to wear something corporate. Try a navy-colored polish!
• Your bra affects your posture. Buy new ones regularly to avoid stretching them out.
• Having a great foundation (i.e. bra, slip, etc.) makes everything else you are wearing look better.
• Shoes: If you can’t walk in them, don’t wear them!  You will look awkward and uncomfortable.
• Know five go-to outfits in your closet, so you are ready for any last-minute meetings.

Want more workplace style tips? Check back Thursday for more on fashion and the office!

~Katie Corrado, Fordham University ‘12
Development Director, nywiciNEXT

Next in Media: Ellen is Fourth Idol Judge; Teen Vogue Publishes How-to Book

• Ellen DeGeneres announced on her daytime show this week that she will be the permanent fourth judge on American Idol this season, replacing Paula Abdul. [EW]
• Teen Vogue is publishing “The Teen Vogue Handbook” on how get a job as a designer, stylist, photographer or editor in the fashion industry. [NY Times]
• Google is developing a micropayment platform as an extension of Google Checkout, giving the news industry an easy system for charging for content online. [Nieman Lab]
• MTV has named iJustine, an Internet celebrity for her video blogging and Twitter updates, as “Twitter correspondent.” [MTV]
• E! is launching a new campaign this week that will use 125 of Clear Channel’s digital billboards to plug E! News and feature breaking news alerts. [AdAge]

From Cover to Cover: September Issues That Live Up to the Hype

September issues are important for fashion magazines because they introduce the fall season. This September, two issues in particular stand out: Vogue and Elle. Luckily, they won’t break the bank like most of the fashion-editor approved fall “musts” inside – you can get both for under $10!

Two blonde actresses grace the cover of these fashion glossies: Charlize Theron on the cover of Vogue and Jennifer Aniston on Elle. Charlize Theron’s look beckons you to buy the magazine, with her head slightly tilted, as if welcoming you to the 587 pages inside. Likewise, Aniston looks a-mazing on the cover of Elle.  My only complaint is that Elle seems to have used lots of black leathery looks for the past few covers (Miley Cyrus in August and Megan Fox on the June subscriber cover). It’s time for a change, and some color!

On top of great cover girls, both September issues were fun to read. My favorite Vogue feature was an article on the changing definition of luxury in these economic times, detailing how Phillip Lim (one of my personal favorites) has nailed this.  Other highlights include a beauty guide featuring five of the world’s hottest super models right now—including Karlie Kloss—a dazzling fashion spread featuring model Natalia Vodianova as Little Red Riding Hood, and tons of fall fashion.

Elle has a lot to offer too, my favorite highlight being Design Director Joe Zee’s monthly column featuring a style-off with SNL funny man Andy Samberg (I love Joe Zee, but I think Samberg won this battle!) The issue is packed with tons of fall’s hottest looks and trends. And a special feature, the “Elle 25,” highlights 25 of the “can’t miss” events of fall, including Fox’s new TV show Glee, the film Coco Before Chanel, and the MoMA’s Tim Burton exhibit featuring his childhood drawings and unrealized films.

So if you have to choose anything this September, let it be Vogue and Elle. Your fall fashion IQ will soar, and you’ll be inspired to start collecting pieces for your fall wardrobe!

~Kaitlin Tambuscio, The College of New Jersey ‘10

Pay It Forward Mentoring

Being a member of New York Women in Communications taught me the importance of mentorship and encouragement when working toward a career. As a mentee, I’ve learned invaluable lessons about different careers in the communications industry from the professional members of NYWICI and have been empowered to reach for goals I never thought I could accomplish. This summer, I had the opportunity to pay it forward by being a mentor myself in the Interactive Journalism Institute for Middle Schoolers (IJIMS).

IJIMS, started by three computer science and journalism professors at The College of New Jersey, is a program that aims to introduce middle school students in underrepresented populations (including female students) to computing-rich fields through interactive journalism.

The 2009 participants of the Interactive Journalism Institute for Middle Schoolers

During the one-week summer institute, the middle school students and teachers (all from a local middle school) created an online magazine. They interviewed professionals and developed a story package around the interview, including a written article, digital video and interactive content created in Scratch (a drag-and-drop, kid-friendly computer programming language). The program continues during the school year through an after-school program and classroom integration. During the six weeks of prep leading up to this summer’s institute, my job included creating tutorials that the students used to learn the programs and content management system, updating a database of interview sources, working with the middle school teacher participants, and analyzing data related to the student’s awareness of computer science.

But the most rewarding part was the time spent working with the middle schoolers. I talked to them about potential careers in computing and media and helped them learn how to edit video and use AP style. I was amazed by the ease with which the students learned new skills and applied them to journalism. If these students are any indication, the future of the media and computing industries is in good hands.

~Kelli Plasket, The College of New Jersey ‘10