2023 – Spring

The Beat: Style in the City (Print/Online track)

Course Number: JOUR-UA 201, section 2

Day & Time: Wed | 5:45 PM – 9:25 PM

Location: 20 Cooper Square, room 653

Prerequisites: Journalistic Inquiry: The Written Word JOUR-UA 101

New York City’s Economic Development Corporation says it best on the homepage of their website: “In a city that prides itself on pushing the envelope of industry and commerce, fashion remains at the heart of New York City’s cultural identity. From the hundreds of fashion companies that call the city home to the world-renowned New York Fashion Week, to the role the industry played in COVID response…in NYC, fashion is forever.”

There is no better place to explore through the lens of fashion than the city that houses “Fashion Avenue”, iconic industry landmarks like Bergdorf Goodman and Tiffany & Co. and countless individuals who have found ways to identify their personal style through cultural experiences in the variety of neighborhoods from Uptown to Downtown.

This class will utilize the many unique gifts that New York City has to offer, such as its countless parks filled with stylish people to tourist destinations like Soho and the Garment District, to develop an understanding of culture from lifestyle to class through the lens of fashion. We will explore different neighborhoods, talk to New York City-based talent, and dive into the immense fashion history that is rooted in Manhattan and continues to thrive in today’s post-COVID world.

Students will learn how to write personal essays, fashion show reviews, profile stories, trend pieces, and long-form features. They will also hear from a handful of New York City-based guest speakers with a range of positions in the industry. Past guest speakers have included Vogue Runway’s Nicole Phelps, Fashionista’s Tyler McCall, Harper’s Bazaar’s Nikki Ogunnaike, Elaine Welteroth, Chrissy Rutherford, Taylor Hicks and Amy Odell.

Notes: Required for students pursuing the print/online track in the journalism major and the minor in print and online journalism. Counts as an elective for the minor in broadcast and multimedia journalism.

Questions? Email undergraduate.journalism@nyu.edu.