Slideshow presentation pitch I put together for my group in my magazine class at San Jose State University. I was the editor-in-chief of the magazine with a talented group of my peers. The idea\'s concept was used for an actual magazine the following semester.

1. Julianne Shapiro – Editor-in-Chief
Suzanne Yada – Features Editor
Holly Szkoropad – Front-of-Book Editor
Katherine Finneran – Art Director
Amy Reynoso – Advertising Director
Samantha Patterson – Back-of-Book Editor

2. Mission StatementMission Statement
Living on your own as a San Jose State student is a nerve-
wracking thing. You've got bills, you've got studies and you've
got downtown San Jose to contend with. So it is our mission
to bring to you a new magazine jam-packed with information
your parents forgot to tell you while they shoved you out the
door. Never learned how to do laundry? We'll show you.
Need to find a fabulous new salon that's affordable and near
campus? We'll guide you. Want to party like a college student
at night and still behave like an adult in the morning? We cut
the crap and give you the real deal with fresh stories, fun tips
and useful advice geared specifically for helping the newly
independent San Jose State student navigate through life. Just
think of us as your encyclopedia for surviving – and thriving –
on your own on this crazy campus, in this crazy city, in this
crazy modern world.

3. The SpecificsThe Specifics
32-page color issue
4,000 press run
Target audience: San Jose State
University undergraduate students
between the ages of 17 to 22

4. Strategy MemoStrategy Memo
Three themes rule students’ life: Live,
Study and Play
A student can easily absorb our content
 Departments will tie into our front- of-
book, feature and back-of-book articles

5. Strategy MemoStrategy Memo
 Front-of-book: Live and Study
sections
 Back-of-book: Play articles
 Features: Center of book
 Articles are quick reads packed
with information

6. Strategy MemoStrategy Memo
Each article is dedicated to our
theme of survival in ways that affect
SJSU students
 Each feature will cover a different
facet of Spartan life in depth

7. Design MemoDesign Memo
Attention grabber
Vibrant photos and graphics
Vivid use of color
Layout tailored for each story
Fonts:
Myriad Pro – sans-serif for headlines
Garamond Pro – serif for body

8. Design MemoDesign Memo
Sections color-coded for easy
navigation:
Live section: Green
Study section: Blue
Play section: Red
Features section: Yellow

9. BookmapBookmap

11. Table of ContentsTable of Contents

12. Letter From The EditorLetter From The Editor
When I first moved to California from Connecticut on my own at age 17, I knew life
would not be a cakewalk. I had no support from my family, no friends in the area and no real
plan other than displacing myself 3,000 miles away from my parents. It was a little extreme
looking back on it and although many of you may feel inclined to do something similar at
times, I am here to reassure you that living on your own in San Jose is an extremely viable
option.
We designed this evergreen guide so you have the insight from years of our own screw-
ups. Don’t make the same mistake as me: shopping therapy is no solution for your social
problems. The article “Step Away from the Piggy Bank” on page 5 provides great tips on how
to live on what you have, without breaking into your savings. Please don’t make debt
consolidation another monthly headache.
Ever think you have had the worst guidance advice from the guidance department?
Chances are, you’re not alone. Read about the horror stories from other likeminded
individuals on page 13 while we set the record straight on what classes can count for more than
one graduation requirement. Don’t assume those 10-minute drop-in sessions for advice will
actually result in a diploma when you want it.
Our cover story on page 21 examines the fine equilibrium of balancing life, school and
athletics. Of course, the answer is not steroids as one-student jokes. Examine the schedules of
three student athletes who were in the top 15 percent of their class to see how they managed to
still walk the dog, clean the dishes and find time to party.
Of course, I can’t forget the one saving grace from school stress that I have found myself
turning to throughout the last six years (if you guessed books you really weren’t close) – booze.
We’ll school you on the best happy hours in town on page 23 so you’ll know where to go to
spend your tips you made at Starbucks. But, keep in mind my gospel: getting through college is
best spent out of the bathroom than in it.
Enjoy the issue and sort of see you at The Blank Club,
Julianne Shapiro

13. Front-of-BookFront-of-Book
Live Section
Finance:
 Step Away From the Piggy Bank
 Top Five Credit Card Mistakes
Trends:
 iPods: Friend or Foe? Are You Alienating Yourself?
 Work Out on Campus
Home Ec.:
 Five Recipes with Only Five Ingredients
 Ten Good Uses for Ketchup
Study
 Take Back Sunday: Get Homework Done, So You Can Play
 Cramming: Facts You Need to Know

17. Feature 1Feature 1
Survival Tales: how they conquered
the real world and how you can too
Sidebar: how the Career Center
actually help in the transition?
Art: portraits of the graduates

18. Feature 2: Cover StoryFeature 2: Cover Story
Surviving College In Shape: Balancing
life, School and Athleticism
Sidebar: A typical day in the life of an
athlete: Is your schedule this jam-
packed?
Art: Photographer to follow student
through typical day

20. Feature 3Feature 3
Are you earthquake-ready? 12 steps you
can take to be prepared
Sidebar: 10 things you can do right now
to make your space earthquake-proof
Art: Photo illustration of a shaking
Tower Hall, archived photos of
previous earthquakes

21. Feature 4Feature 4
Horror Stories: Students school the
guidance department
Sidebar: The top five most common
counseling problems
Art: Photo illustration of student
inside Munch’s “The Scream” painting

23. Back-of-BookBack-of-Book
Play: Put the magazine down and go have some fun
Where to be after studying: Nightlife, Bars/Clubs
 Best voted restaurants in town to indulge in
 Clubs for the under-21 crowd
 Calendar of upcoming events
 Student discounts
 Music concerts in the area, concert previews
 Theater events
 Sports teams/ exercise classes to get involved in to release all that built- up stress
Sunday Fun Day
 Guide to cheap fun
 Antique fairs/flea markets
 Seasonal fun (San Jose Sharks season, snowboarding fun for winter)

25. Business Memo: AdvertisingBusiness Memo: Advertising
InterestInterest
Lee’s Sandwiches
Yolee’s Freeze
Tres Gringos Baja Cantina
Fahrenheit Restaurant and Ultra Lounge
Agenda Restaurant Bar and Lounge
Smoke Tiki Lounge
WET Nightclub
Tricks Pub

26. Business Memo: PromotionBusiness Memo: Promotion
Giant display banner of the front cover
ex: like Access’s banner from last
semester
Request The Spartan Daily to run an
advertisement to pick up the magazine

27. Business Memo: CirculationBusiness Memo: Circulation
Available on campus at:
 Student Union
 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library
 Dwight Bentel Hall
Available off campus at:
 Starbucks
 Togo’s
 Subway
 Tully’s
 Miko Miko at Lollycup

28. Business Memo: CompetitionBusiness Memo: Competition
The Wave
Coverage of entertainment, dining,
family and community, nightlife

29. Business Memo: The WaveBusiness Memo: The Wave

30. Business Memo: CompetitionBusiness Memo: Competition
The Metro
Coverage of entertainment in
Silicon Valley, upcoming events

31. Business Memo: The MetroBusiness Memo: The Metro

32. Business Memo: State & NationalBusiness Memo: State & National
Local competition only
No state and national competition
due to target audience

33. Business Memo: What sets us apartBusiness Memo: What sets us apart
Highly targeted readership
Ages 17-22
Fun, smart, youthful, inquisitive
Longer shelf life
Students keep helpful articles
Minimum ads
Less competition for readers

34. Web MemoWeb Memo
Goal: attract readers to actually go out and pick up
printed magazine
Interactive/multimedia activity:
Interactive event calendar
Leave comments on feature articles
Video of interviews from feature articles
Bulletin board
Downtown business ratings, link exchange and list
of student discounts
eNewsletter function for upcoming editions