Awkward Journalism at it's Finest

In the field of journalism, when it comes to attire, a reporter only has one concern: to dress appropriately. In a sense, adapt to ones surroundings. That does not mean you should wear the team jersey of a sports player you're about to interview as that would demonstrate a bias. But rather, if you're traveling to a foreign conservative country or onto a religious site, perform tasks in which respect and don't offend your interview subject. That being said, if a news show specifically targets a particular audience, (for example, alternative music/fashion) it can be free to display a certain level of style or personality to fit that designated scene.

However, somehow the online news show The Thread seemed to have gotten all this backwards.

 In the link below, one of the show's reporters, Jessica Stam, is interviewing musician-turned-fashionista, Avril Lavigne, about her new clothing line, labeled Abbey Dawn. However, while the quality of the content in the interview can be left up for discussion, the overall presentation can only be described with one word: awkward.

http://shine.yahoo.com/the-thread-style-crush/avril-lavigne-talks-to-the-thread-about-her-clothing-line-abbey-dawn.html


This is an alternative, edgy style show welcoming a musician of its own kind. And yet, instead of producing a scene of equally edgy visuals, it chose to go with a more country club look. This created what could be dubbed the newest online segment: Making Musicians Uncomfortable, Alternative Edgy vs Classy Chic.
The interview begins with a conflicting visual parallel between the pop-punk princess and the interviewer, all the way from clothing to atmosphere. Avril is in casual comfy clothes and big rimmed glasses, reflecting her consistant image of punk rock meets girly girl. However, despite the edgy intro to The Thread's segment, the show failed to prepare for a celebrity of that same style. The room in which the segment is taking place looks more suitable for an interview with a more prim and proper actress than an alternative celebrity.

Sharing a white plush and button puckered couch, the Complicated star looks incredibly uncomfortable as she fiddles with her hands and can't seem to decide whether to look Jessica or the camera. Jessica, who is dressed like she works in a business office and is conducting a job interview (but with a slightly shorter skirt), is sitting up straight as she begins to conduct her interview while Avril is slouched over her knees, looking out of place from this formal setting. As the conversation continues, the girls fluctuate sitting positions: sometimes they're both leaning against the back of the couch pillows, then briefly Avril sits up straight while Jessica is slouched, and then the roles reverse once again.

Furthermore, the contrast continues as the facial expressions of these two ladies is quite the altercation. Jessica displays hardly any enthusiasm to be speaking with Avril about her clothing line, her newest tattoo in honor of the line, or even in congratulating her on her engagement to Brody Jenner.

Either The Thread needs to fire their producer or Avril needs to find a new agent pronto.

New Orleans: 3 1/2 years since Katrina

This is what the majority of the Lower 9th Ward in New Orleans still looks like, empty plots of land or slabs of concrete. However, thanks to Brad Pitt's Make It Right foundation, slowly but surely, homes are being rebuilt in the Lower 9th Ward and citizens are moving back home. Unfortunately, homes outside of that area are mostly being constructed by non-profit organizations and the thousands of volunteers, usually college students, that have traveled from all over the country to help. Their busiest season, in which they have the most progress in a single span of time, is during the month of March, during college Spring Breaks, leaving the summer months slow and difficult to keep pace.


This is one of the houses of the Make It Right project in the L9th, next to an empty stoop that is still marked by its address with a wooden pallet.

In any given neighborhood, lower, middle and even some upper class areas, 2/3 homes are still empty or not even close to being finished. This is the inside of a house in a middle class neighborhood on Paris & Fillmore. Many houses in this neighborhood haven't even gotten this far. However now, thanks to volunteers, after five days of work, this house now looks like this:


This house now has its ceilings in tact and a large start on its walls.

"For the longest time, I would walk into this house and think I invested my money in a pile of wood. But for the first time, now I am actually starting to see my house again," said Cynthia Foot, the owner of the house.