The Commerce Times

Pink Slip success

RRJ editor-in-chief, Katherine Laidlaw (left), schmoozes with fellow writers and readers at the Pink Slip Party. Courtesy of Phoenix Tarampi

December 1, 2009 0 | By Phoenix Tarampi

As the days get shorter and our savings accounts dwindle, students are looking for any reason to escape and party. Thankfully, the Ryerson Review of Journalism had an answer on Nov. 26 with the Pink Slip Party, an evening fundraiser held at Supermarket in Kensington that was geared towards forgetting our woes and helping out the magazine.

The RRJ has published in-depth, analytical writing about the world of media since 1983, and is written and edited by fourth-year journalism undergrads and masters students. It is read across the country by professional journalists and is known as “the watchdog of the watchdogs.”

“We’ll be looking at different ways major game-changers in the media world will be addressing issues,” said Katherine Laidlaw, editor-in-chief of the Spring 2010 issue. The Pink Slip Party sold just under 130 tickets, raised over $2,000, and included $5 cupcakes that came with extra prizes, with all funds going towards the magazine. Laidlaw said she was very happy with the turnout and the atmosphere.

Laidlaw is a Master of Journalism student, with an undergraduate degree in English from Queens. Her hopes for the magazine and the media industry are focused around the writers and editors who continue to work and write despite the poor economic conditions.

“I hope that talented writers and editors in our country have and continue to have vehicles for that work,” she said. “I think it’s important and I don’t think that tough economic times make information gathering and interesting storytelling any less important.”

With a background solely in print, Laidlaw admits that the outlook of graduating journalism students isn’t looking more optimistic. “We’ve been told over and over and are sort of getting smashed over the head with the idea that media is not in a good place,” she said.

However, she says that interest in magazines and print media isn’t declining. Especially in the case of the RRJ, “interest will increase as the industry continues to face more challenges, because [media outlets] look to publications like ours for answers or ideas about how challenges are being tackled.”

When it comes to the world of magazine publishing and the importance of the business side of things, Laidlaw agreed that fostering relationships between two of the most prestigious schools at Ryerson would be useful. “I think [it would benefit] someone entering marketing or someone who is interested in eventually getting into print publishing or leading a company like the CBC”, she said. Laidlaw suggested that an additional program focused on publishing could make fostering these relationships more effective.

“It’s something that is on journalists minds for sure and business students should care about issues that surround [the media] industry,” said Laidlaw. She added that in an academic setting where there are more opportunities to be innovative than in the typical workplace, it’s important to take advantage of that.

From stories of major industry changes to focused profiles of highly-respected professionals, the RRJ will put the media world into perspective for its readers and peers. Media is in a time of change and challenge and, luckily, the RRJ is there to help. “We have a focus on where we are headed and how can we make it as painless a transition as possible,” assured Laidlaw.