A Time for Transition

In all honesty, I’m excited to take on the role as an editor. I’m going to miss writing stories on my beat for the moment, but I’m looking forward to taking a look at my peers’ stories and helping them to be the best they can be. This semester, I was a content producer for ICTV Reports, where one of my roles was to oversee the progress that the host and the correspondents are making with their stories and assist them with anything they need. If being an editor is even remotely similar to being a producer (to that extent), then I think I’ll enjoy my time undertaking this role.

As a producer for ICTV Reports, one of my many jobs is to oversee the progress of my hosts and correspondents, and do anything I can to help their story reach its fullest potential. Sometimes that means driving three hours to Buffalo to interview a source | Source: Jordan Broking

However, I did have a few story ideas under my belt I would’ve liked to explore if I had taken on the reporting role again. For nearly every story I worked on, I had local artists telling me about Deep Dive, a local venue in Ithaca. For example, Nate Marshall, from my story on Ooy’s Cafe & Deli, told me he had just secured a regular “Happy Hour” gig on Friday nights. In the business’s Instagram bio, I couldn’t help but notice that “live music” is the first thing listed. Does that mean live music is what attracts people the most?

I’m curious to see if there’s anything worth exploring there. In my last story, I discussed how live performance affected the Ithaca community, however, I’ve always been intrigued on how exactly live performance affects the business. For the Deep Dive story, my goal would’ve been to investigate their business model and how their relationship with local artists affects the growth of their business. In terms of sources, my hope would be to get in contact with the owners of Deep Dive, some regular performers like Nate Marshall (because it’s never bad to keep a rapport with someone you’ve interviewed before), and a few on-the-scene attendees. The venue accepts patrons ages 18 and older, so this story could also reach college communities, which could in turn benefit Deep Dive’s business.

Another business I wanted to explore was the Cherry Arts, a performance space that enables local artists to collaborate and experiment across artistic and cultural boundaries. I first came across their website my sophomore year, but never truly explored their page until I was “tweeting my beat” earlier this semester.

A throwback to October when I explored The Cherry Arts for the first time | Source: Brooke Vogel

The space fosters all kinds of programs and events, including college work-study programs, classes and workshops, puppet events, and Walk This Play, a program that enables people to listen to a play while enjoying the great outdoors. How do these unique programs help facilitate the success of the business? That’s what I want to find out.

For sources, my first instinct would be to contact Artistic Director Samuel Buggeln, and/or his partner, Cherry co-founder Nick Salvato. For another perspective, I’d talk to one of the many performers, playwrights, or anyone who has been involved with the organization. Lastly, my goal would be to find either an economics or a business professor at Ithaca College to serve as my expert source.

Though the semester is coming to an end and I’ll be living in Los Angeles for the spring semester, that doesn’t mean I won’t keep reporting on my beat. Los Angeles is a hub for entertainment, and I can’t wait to explore all of the possible stories on the west coast. When I come back to Ithaca next fall, I do plan on pursuing those two ideas, because I truly believe those are some of the many stories that need to be told.