<p>This year I'll finally start pulling together my Capstone project, and I could really use your help. For those who don't know, a Capstone is a senior project at SU that sort of rounds out your education in your major. Don't worry, not everyone has to do one; this is something I chose. </p>
<p>Mine is a prom magazine. </p>
<p>Actually, the project is a pitch for a new magazine for young women. The catchphrase is "It walks, talks and dresses like a teen magazine, it just doesn't party like one." It's basically a high school girls' mag that knows a few 12-year-olds are reading it. No sex, no scandal. Plenty of love stories, fashion, friendship, advice, and creativity. It's thoughtful, energetic and ever mindful of the images and ideas it conveys to its readers. It may sound boring, but believe me, the web innovation part of this project is cool enough to carry it. </p>
<p>So why am I creating the prom issue if no 12-year-olds can go to prom?
a) Because it's fun.
b) Because it's iconic. Prom is something only high school girls can do, and , whatever else it is, it is first and foremost a high school magazine.
c) Because if you want 13-16 year-olds to buy a magazine, you put an older girl on the cover.
d) Prom costs money. If I were selling adspace, that would matter. </p>
<p>I have partner who's helping with all the tech stuff, but I still need more , and this is where you come in. I need writers and designers to help me fill some pages. I also need sources.
A good chunk of you are high school juniors and seniors, and another chunk are rising college freshmen. So you're either getting ready for prom, or you just developed the photos (ok, posted them to facebook 2 months ago). </p>
<p>I need your stories. I need to know how you asked/got asked, what you wore, who chose the theme, what worried you, what pleased you, why your prom was better/different/greener/smarter than the rest. And I need pictures. </p>
<p>This is a great chance for young writers to get some practice, get edited, and get clips. I worked at the Daily Orange last year and I promise I'm gentle. Im interning at Martha Stewart Living this summer, and soaking up all the experience I can. I also genuinely care about my major and love the magazine industry, and I try my best to learn it well. I need help, but I also love to help.
If you made it through my whole 400+-word pitch, you must be at least a little interested, right? Contact me if you want to give it a shot. PM me or email me at <a href="mailto:nstebbi@syr.edu">nstebbi@syr.edu</a>.
Thanks!</p>