Log Twenty- My In Campus Experience

Now that I am finally back in Canada, well rested, jetlagg averted and with a free day I can finally blog! For those of you who did not know, I attended the in campus session on the 31st of October with my five day trip back to the UK (as you can see I have attached a few photos from my trip including a photo of myself wearing my new Middlesex Uni hoodie). It was a really terrible morning at first, I was violently ill for some reason. Not sure if it was the jetlagg, if I had a twenty four hour flu or I had simply ate something that didn't agree with me. Whatever the reason it was a NOT pleasant trip from Cambridge up to Hampsted Central. But I made it in time to catch the last part of the morning class and have a chance to talk to Paula before the afternoon session. By lunch time I was much better so I could enjoy and partake in the discussions.

I am glad I was able to attend one of the in campus sessions before the course is over, it gave me a greater understanding of my Critical Review and a better idea what I am trying to research. Paula asked me for my question what I was trying to find out and I responded with, "What it takes for one to be successful in the fashion industry?" Paula pointed out that success can mean multiple things to multiple people and that I need to narrow down the term "success" more. I now know that I want to find out how you can be FINANCIALLY successful in the fashion industry. The reason I am going to look into the financial side is because that is one of the hardest things to achieve in the field of fashion. It's not the amount of magazines/commercials you have/your work has appeared in, it's the size of your pay cheque. Success equals financial stability.

Another one of the main points I brought back from the session is to remember when doing your research, do not be one sided. It's important to get another perspective into your research so there is more information to give. They way it was described in the session to get a better understanding of why it is important was see it as a mountain. If you just stare at the mountain on one side you may never find out the mountain has a river on the other side or forest. You need a lot of views to learn more and have a greater understanding for your inquiry.

This affects my research and inquiry because now it has made me think that people in the GTA (Toronto and surrounding areas of Ontario, Canada) may find connections and networking is the best path to success and financial stability but out West in Canada (British Columbia, Alberta, etc), they may see it as what degree/talent you have earned.

I thoroughly enjoyed the session and it was so interesting listening to everyone else's research plans, what they were trying to achieve from their inquiries, future or current career plans and just getting to know those in general face to face (finally) in my group. I loved seeing the Middlesex campus itself and getting my own Middlesex hoodie (thanks Paula), but most importantly getting a better idea of what direction I want to take my critical reflection into. I just wish my stay had been longer.

More blogs to come! Sorry for the delayed blog but I have been so jetlagged since I have been back and my job was taking up so much of my time and energy. I am now part time at my job so that will make such a difference!

Log Eighteen: Finally getting down to business

These last few months have been a roller coaster, not only with the Professional Inquiry Plan but also various events like FAT week here in Toronto (Fashion Art Toronto week). I was on the Dragon's Den and Breakfast Television also here in Toronto. I had shoots which both appeared in Elle Canada and the Vogue Italia website. Examples below.

I've also been trying to gain a more hands on approach to the fashion industry like any normal Fashion Communications student would be doing. I have begun my jewellery classes at George Brown College and find that it comes very naturally to me. A lot of shop work, kneeling, piercing and soldering were involved but I found I highly enjoyed and, if I do say so myself, was exceptionally good at it. Here is some examples of the work I did and documented for the first two weeks of the course using Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Speaking of Web 2.0, this week I learned a better way of honing my Web 2.0 skills especially with a way that is more sufficient for my industry. That is Instagram. I recently have been hired on at a prestigious consignment store owned by world renowned stylist, Janet Han who recommended to me Instagram. It is purely through pictures that you reach other people on this social network, but fashion is a image orientated business. Also through Instagram you can reach to a lot more people than through Twitter or Facebook alone.

Janet Han has been great to work for and I am already learning so much about designer wear that I never knew before and consignment. This job is definitely a vital part to my education and eventual career in fashion.

I was so pleased my rationale for my award  title was agreed on as BA Honours Professional Practice in 'Fashion Communication'. I've begun planning out another survey to better understand success in the fashion, the business of fashion, ethics, etc. I also want to expand my SIG blog which has been such a success. Unfortunately I have also ignored it as much as I have this blog due to my busy schedule but I intend to change that. If any of you have not seen the SIG blog yet you can find it here at communicatedfashion.blogspot.ca.

I feel very excited I am coming so close to the end of my educational journey. It has been tough but I have learned so much. I already feel confidant to go out there now and pursue and long lasting and successful career in the fashion industry.

Another important aspect of Fashion Communication ethics...

Journalism.

A lot of what involves Fashion Communication, meaning "mass commuincation" is the journalism side. I have been doing much of this with my SIG blog and with it's every growing popularity I must follow the code of ethics for journalism. I researched this aspect through Wikipedia and found a long list:

"The primary themes common to most codes of journalistic standards and ethics are the following.

[edit]Accuracy and standards for factual reporting

• Reporters are expected to be as accurate as possible given the time allotted to story preparation and the space available, and to seek reliable sources.
• Events with a single eyewitness are reported with attribution. Events with two or more independent eyewitnesses may be reported as fact. Controversial facts are reported with attribution.
• Independent fact-checking by another employee of the publisher is desirable
• Corrections are published when errors are discovered
• Defendants at trial are treated only as having "allegedly" committed crimes, until conviction, when their crimes are generally reported as fact (unless, that is, there is serious controversy about wrongful conviction).
• Opinion surveys and statistical information deserve special treatment to communicate in precise terms any conclusions, to contextualize the results, and to specify accuracy, including estimated error and methodological criticism or flaws.

[edit]Slander and libel considerations

• Reporting the truth is almost never libel [3], which makes accuracy very important.
• Private persons have privacy rights that must be balanced against the public interest in reporting information about them. Public figures have fewer privacy rights in U.S. law, where reporters are immune from a civil case if they have reported without malice. In Canada, there is no such immunity; reports on public figures must be backed by facts.
• Publishers vigorously defend libel lawsuits filed against their reporters, usually covered by libel insurance.

[edit]Harm limitation principle

During the normal course of an assignment a reporter might go about—gathering facts and details, conducting interviews, doing research, background checks, taking photos, videotaping, recording sound—harm limitation deals with the questions of whether everything learned should be reported and, if so, how. This principle of limitation means that some weight needs to be given to the negative consequences of full disclosure, creating a practical and ethical dilemma. The Society of Professional Journalists' code of ethics offers the following advice, which is representative of the practical ideals of most professional journalists. Quoting directly:^[17]

• Show compassion for those who may be affected adversely by news coverage. Use special sensitivity when dealing with children and inexperienced sources or subjects.
• Be sensitive when seeking or using interviews or photographs of those affected by tragedy or grief.
• Recognize that gathering and reporting information may cause harm or discomfort. Pursuit of the news is not a license for arrogance.
• Recognize that private people have a greater right to control information about themselves than do public officials and others who seek power, influence or attention. Only an overriding public need can justify intrusion into anyone's privacy.
• Show good taste. Avoid pandering to lurid curiosity.
• Be cautious about identifying juvenile suspects or victims of sex crimes.
• Be judicious about naming criminal suspects before the formal filing of charges.
• Balance a criminal suspect's fair trial rights with the public's right to be informed.

[edit]Presentation

Main article: News style

Ethical standards should not be confused with common standards of quality of presentation, including:

• Correctly spoken or written language (often in a widely spoken and formal dialect, such as Standard English)
• Clarity
• Brevity (or depth, depending on the niche of the publisher)"

[edit]

Taken from Journalism ethics and standards Wikipedia

Truthfulness, accuracy, objectivity, impartiality, fairness and public accountability and limitation of harm are the main ethics highlighted here. Other important ethics involving fashion communication is advertising. After reading Advertising Ethics: Emerging Methods and Trends the most important points and the ones that were vital to fashion communication were use of deception, racial and sexual stereotyping. Although I do believe use of deception is very prominent in the fashion industry with peoples' appearances being widely altered and screwing our perception of beauty. Companies like Dove are trying to prevent the use of deception but there is still a long way to go.