Downtown Sources

my_athens – an Instagram that details Athens’ events, culture, and idiosyncrasies

exploreathens – an Instagram focusing mostly on Athens’ student community

Downtown Athens – a twitter account dedicated to the downtown community

Visit Athens – a twitter about the larger Athens community

Athens-Clarke County – the twitter of the city government

Online Athens – twitter of online publication devoted to Athens events

Flagpole – twitter of local news publication

Spotted Athens – photos of the community

Georgia Theatre – details Athens’ music scene

40 Watt – more of Athens’ music scene

guide2Athens – focus on local business and culture

Old Stories

Published in 2007 in The Augusta Chronicle, “Parking Less Pricey in Downtown Athens” details a now-resolved dispute among Athens residents as to whether or not parking meter prices and fines should be raised, as they were some of the lowest among the Georgia cities surveyed. At the time, parking meters charged five cents per twelve minutes, and a ticket for an expired meter was $3, while parking beyond the time limit was a $5 ticket. While some residents and city officials wanted the ticket fines to remain that low, they have since been raised to $10 for an expired meter and $15 for parking beyond the time limit.

 

Third Try to Build On Downtown Lot,” published in 2009 in the Athens Banner-Herald, describes the debate among Athens business owners and city officials to decide if building a four story parking deck on East Broad Street would detract so much from the look and feel of historic downtown that it wouldn’t be worth it. However, members of the Athens-Clarke Heritage Foundations voiced their support for it.

Another parking deck, this one six stories, encountered greater resistance in late 2009, as reported by the Athens Banner-Herald in “Too Late for Say On New Deck.” Citizens felt that city commissioners fast-tracked the building of the parking deck without making sure local business and citizens approved of it. Many were afraid it would obscure and dwarf the Georgia Theatre and simply be a drab eyesore. The city commission was unwilling to change or slow down the process.

More Research

1. A Brief History of Denim Cutoffs
http://i-d.vice.com/en_us/article/a-brief-history-of-denim-cutoffs-from-daisy-duke-to-debbie-harry

2. Why Are So Many People Obsessed With Supreme?

http://www.vice.com/read/supreme-and-the-psychology-of-brand-devotion

3. Fashion and Culture Drive Chinese Tourists to Italy
https://global-factiva-com.proxy-remote.galib.uga.edu/redir/default.aspx?P=sa&an=CHNDHK0020160905ec950002d&cat=a&ep=ASE

4. The CFDA Calls For More Diversity At New York Fashion Week

http://www.harpersbazaar.co.uk/fashion/fashion-news/news/a37937/the-cfda-calls-for-more-diversity-at-new-york-fashion-week/

5. The relationship between Media Consumption and Eating Disorders in the Journal of Communication 1997
Media Consumption and Eating Disorders

5.

Brainstorming: Fashion & Lifestyle Story Ideas

1. I would like to profile the experiences of college females who work in the lucrative positions of promotional models in the beer industry.

2. An assignment discussing the impracticality of women’s clothing vs men’s clothing and why the former seems to suffer for aesthetic design in the way men’s doesn’t (possible titles include “WHY ARE WOMENS POCKETS MERELY AN ILLUSION I CAN’T EVEN CARRY CHAPSTICK WHILE WEARING JEANS BUT MY BOYFRIEND CAN FIT HIS NISSAN PICKUP, TABLE SAW AND OUR CAT ZELDA IN ONE OF HIS BACK POCKETS”)

3. Are sin taxes (those against cigarettes, tanning beds, etc) effective in curbing specifically college age consumer behavior?

4. A look at up-and-coming female film directors in the South. Possibly delve into their specific aesthetics, casting, style or how their experiences/barriers in the film industry may be different than males in their field (I’m also not sure if this is at all relevant to my beat, but after reading this: Vogue Elizabeth Wood’s Film White Girl Controversy possibly an article about the differences in critic responses to similar male and female films or male/female art in general when it comes to grants, music etc.)

5. A look at full-time UGA undergraduate students who are balancing an already blossoming professional career in art or business, for example, a student who is still enrolled full-time but recently started a business or clothing line or is selling crafts etc)

6. A behind-the-scenes look at trying to break into the fashion world as a model featuring new models around Georgia.

7. Looking at the monetary value of certain art degrees (in an admittedly more anecdotal way) by talking to photographers, graphic designers, and other artists who have gone to colleges like SCAD vs those who are professionally successful without a college degree.

8. An article about the paid nude (or “live”) models that work at the Lamar Dodd School of Art at UGA.

9. A look at the ethically murky trend on social media of advertisers paying for sponsored featured mentions or “testimonials” (many of those being paid by companies fall under the “Instagram-famous” or “Instagram model” category of someone who has a follower count in the thousands, hundred thousands or even millions but who would not be considered a celebrity in the conventional sense outside of the social media platform) that are not explicitly labeled as advertising but rather could be confused as unbiased testimonials to their followers, many of whom are underage.

10. An article about different trends in skin care with expert advice on what skin care mistakes/lifestyle choices different college kids are most likely to commit (i.e A Dermatologist’s Skin Care Guide For Smokers and Partiers)

More Research

Hancock Community residents raise concerns about gentrification issues

This article expresses the concerns of residents in the Hancock Community who feel that gentrification is becoming a constant problem. They voice complaints about things related to the subject — the rising costs of rent pushing elderly residents from their homes, destroying historic community identities and higher rents being placed on buildings in the area, forcing them out.

‘Studentification’ of Athens to pause as mixed residential project moves in

This article is about a development project that would bring residential homes, a grocery store and a restaurant to downtown Athens. It lays parallel the effects of gentrification and the way the city is trying to combat it.

Athens rising: Luxury housing brings change to downtown

This article discusses the luxury housing options being built in downtown Athens and how those more high-rent options are forcing low-income residents further away from the downtown and university areas of Athens.

Students shape Athens housing market while poverty issues persist in the city

This article compares student life with the life of low-income Athenians, in light of Bolton Dining Commons being built so near to the Parkview Homes public housing community. It also delves deeper into what leads to poverty and some of the struggles that arise from a lack of resources.

Gentrification in a Brooklyn neighborhood forces residents to move on 

This article is not about Athens specifically, however, I feel that it relates directly to my beat because it is a great example of the type of article  that I would like to write. It tells the stories of displaced people, while also acknowledging and addressing the issues that led to their displacement. Written for The New York Times, this story about Crown Heights is very interesting and does a good job of showing how gentrification makes one feel.

Brainstorming: The Charity Side of Health and Fitness

  1. Why do charity racers race? I’d like to know what motivates individuals to choose health and fitness activities (not necessarily limited to races; they could do Zumbathons, for example) to raise money for charities, as opposed to other activities like bake sales or bingo nights.

  2. Why do racers raise money for charity? The flip side to the above coin, I’d like to know why fitness gurus choose to raise money for charitable causes.

  3. How effective are races for raising charitable funds? Again not limited to racing, I’d like to know — in terms of event cost versus return on investment — how profitable organized fitness activities are at raising charitable funds in comparison with other fund-raising modalities.

  4. Are there any non-financial or intangible benefits to fitness-for-charity events? How do these compare to other fund-raising modalities?

  5. How do racers raise funds while also training for their event? What techniques are better than others for both activities (training and fundraising)?

  6. What are the most effective charity-raising fitness events? Are they the most well known and recurring, or are they obscure ones, like one-time obstacle courses and fun runs? Why?

  7. Who are the big players? Which events and individuals are the best in the business, and what do they do that makes them stand out?

  8. How long does it take? How long does it take participants to train as well as raise funds for a charitable fitness event?

  9. What draws racers to particular events? Are they going for the fun factor with themed races, seeking a race that targets a specific charity, striving to run an iconic or well known race for charitable causes, or is there some other motivating factor?

  10. Solo or social? Do charity racers run races alone or in groups, and why do they choose their favored method?

More Research

EIDE Magazine: Fashion Magazine of the South Goes National. India Retail News. Published April 21, 2014. Located via LexisNexis.

This article is about the Spring 2014 national launch of Eide Magazine, which focuses specifically on Southern fashion and lifestyle. I had not heard of Eide, so I was excited to have a new source for my research. My ignorance of its existence, along with the article’s assertion that Eide is “filling an essential niche in the marketplace,” makes me wonder if Southern fashion is still a relatively untapped area of reporting, which would relate well to a piece on Southern Bon Vivant.

Cultural Arts Alliance: Judith March Founder Launches Southern Fashion House. India Investment News. Published August 11, 2013. Located via Lexis Nexis. 

Another example of filling the Southern fashion “void”?

Tommy Hilfiger scores touchdown with football-themed show at New York fashion week;
Designer constructs American football pitch for catwalk as part of spectacular show debuting sportswear collection and celebrating 30th anniversary of his clothing empire. The Guardian. Published February 17, 2015. Located via Lexis Nexis. 

Describes a 2015 Tommy Hilfiger fashion show in which all aspects of the show, from tickets to backstage arrangements, were inspired by American football. Possible reference for a piece on fall football fashion?

DKNY gets football fever. House and Home. Published January 28, 2014. Located via LexisNexis.

Another possible reference for a piece on fall football fashion. Describes a DKNY Spring-Summer 2014 collection inspired by American football.

Athens, Ga., clothing boutique promotes positive attitude. By Don Nelson, Athens Banner-Herald. Published February 24, 2008. Located via Lexis Nexis.

This article is about the 2008 opening of a now-defunct Athens boutique called Blonde. I stumbled across this article by accident (along with several others about boutiques no longer in existence), and it made me wonder if there could perhaps be a story idea in there–is or is not Athens a good place for clothing boutiques? Why or why not?

 

 

Fashion and Lifestyle Story Ideas

  1. Religiously inspired fashion choices–How does faith influence what we wear? This idea arose from controversy over the burkini ban in France, but could be expanded to include clothing choices made by Jews, Hindus, and Christians alike.
  2. Fall football fashion. How does what football fans wear to games make a statement beyond what team they support? What trends are most noticeable? Are name-brand items especially in prominence? What do these observations reveal about football culture?
  3. Fall fashion events in Athens (Community, Fashion Design Student Association, Lickskillet). Each of these would probably stand alone, as they are too far apart to be combined into one article.
    1. Community Fashion School showcase in December
    2. Plus-size fashion show in October (Rachel Barnes). Highly relevant in terms of rhetoric about female body positivity circulating on social and news media. Relate to Amy Schumer, Tess Holliday
    3. Lickskillet artist’s market. Use as an example of how independent artists attempt to market themselves and their brands.
  4. Tattoo art. What is art? How are society’s thoughts/reactions to tattoos different from how we react to other forms of art? How do we characterize the tattoo scene in Athens? What rivalries/comraderies exist between different tattoo shops? Is there a “type” of person that gets tattoos?
  5. Ekkos Apparel–Ekkos Apparel was founded by Athenian Rachel Ehlinger to raise money for secondary education in Africa. How does Ekkos operate? How much have they been able to donate thus far?
  6. Craig Page and Sweet Beijos Treats–local bakery founded by former PLACE executive Craig Page and his Brazilian partner. Perhaps relate to other local bakeries.
  7. How has the rise of the film industry in Atlanta affected the fashion industry? (Based on group discussion. As the growing film industry in Atlanta attracts celebrities to the area, will designer brands follow?)
  8. Frugal Fashionable Farmer–ties between fashion and sustainability at a local vintage-inspired artist’s farm
  9. Southern Bon Vivant–the rise of a Southern online fashion and lifestyle magazine. What makes Southern fashion different?
  10. Photographing Athens fashion. I’m less sure about this one, but I do think it would be interesting to photograph and write about styles observed downtown, perhaps during a specific event, but probably just on an average day. Athenians demonstrate such creativity in fashion, but I’m still not sure exactly how I’d flesh out the writing for this piece.

More Research: The Charity Side of Health and Fitness

Here are five more stories relevant to my beat: the charity side of health and fitness.

  1. “How ACTIVE Employees Are Helping Get Kids in the Game”
    • Author: Scott Brown
    • Date Published: July 21, 2016
    • Summary: This story focuses on a different type of charity: giving children access to extracurricular activities who otherwise would not have the chance to do so. The story tells how ACTIVE partners with nonprofit organization Kids in the Game, lists featured events, and gives a testimonial.

  2. “How Do I Raise Money for Charity While Training for a Race?”
    • Author: Team Women’s Running (non-credited)
    • Date Published: March 20, 2015; Updated March 2, 2016
    • Summary: This post is more of a blog than a story, but it does give very useful info on how to raise money while training for a race, including establishing benchmark goals, being creative with how you engage your audience (and potential donators), and holding a fundraising event or party.

  3. “Top 100 Fundraising Ideas”
    • Author: not listed
    • Date Published: April 4, 2013
    • Summary: This article comes out of the UK, and like the previous one, is more of a blog than a story. The difference with this one is it organizes its top 100 fundraising ideas by Type of Fundraiser. It also includes helpful categories including Easiness Rating, Fundraising Target, and Time Scale.

  4. “In Long Run, Do Charity Races Pay?”
    • Author: Trevor Hughes
    • Date Published: April 8, 2013
    • Summary: This cautionary article from USA Today argues that charity runs may not bring in all the charitable funds they aim or claim to. In fact, many fun runs are “woefully inefficient ways to raise funds,” according to nonprofit rating service Charity Navigator’s Sandra Miniutti, and races and other special events were “the least efficient method of raising money, when you look at dollars raised versus dollars spent,” according to a 2003 study by Indiana University’s School of Philanthropy. Miniutti argues such events are more about brand/charity awareness than fundraising. However, the author does report on better aspects of charity races than simply fundraising, including community goodwill and donor cultivation.

  5. “Charity Running More Competitive Than Ever”
    • Author: Michelle Hamilton
    • Date Published: July 2, 2013
    • Summary: Rather than targeting runners, this article focuses on how charities compete to participate in races, especially big ones like the Chicago Marathon. The story mentions how the Marine Corps Marathon added 30 charities to its roster in 2013, hitting a record high of 131, with 28 more on their waiting list. “In the past, there was one or two” said Marine Corps public relations coordinator Tami Faram. The article goes on to mention the growing field of charity racing, as well as its benefits to charities including developing a revenue stream, increasing public visibility, and strengthening relationships with the communities in which races are hosted.