You don’t have to look to the runways of New York City to find the hallmarks of high culture and style. Inside IMPULSE magazine, an independent quarterly publication created by U. of I. students, it’s easy to find glamour and glitz in the heart of Champaign-Urbana.
“We wanted to create a glossy publication that highlights the glamour of student life, and we didn’t really see any venues for that on campus,” said Christian Gollayan, the editor-in-chief of IMPULSE and a senior in the College of Media.
The first issue of the magazine was published in April 2011. The latest – the Beauty issue – was released Jan. 14, emphasizing beauty, fashion and wellness of Illinois students.
Being involved with the magazine’s production has provided real-world journalism experience that staff members are proud of. Gollayan said that success often takes the form of a challenge at first.
“For our cover story for our … summer 2012 issue, I profiled Tim Knudsen, a law student who wants to be a congressman by age 30,” Gollayan said. “(He’s a) really ambitious guy who interned for the Institute of Government and Public Affairs, and he has met (President) Obama a couple of times. For a journalist, it’s difficult to profile a guy like him without turning it into a typical newspaper feature story, but I’m proud of how it all turned out.”
Gino Baileau, a senior in the College of Fine and Applied Arts and the head photographer and creative director for IMPULSE, found success with the magazine when he implemented original ideas for its content.
“When IMPULSE first began, it had a lack of fashion (content) and I wanted to introduce creative fashion editorials to the college campus,” he said. “Now, many of the people who follow IMPULSE have told me that the fashion spreads are their favorite part of the entire magazine. I’m glad to have the opportunity to express my creativity through fashion and have it be such a success on campus. It’s liberating.”
The responsibilities of the IMPULSE staff reach beyond putting together the glossy pages of the magazine. In today’s technological age, combining different forms of media, such as traditional print media and interactive videos, is becoming increasingly more common. Rose-Ann Aragon, a senior in the College of Media and the multimedia director for IMPULSE, integrates multimedia into the production of the magazine.
“We are the active eyes of the magazine,” she said. “We do everything from shooting promotional videos to release party videos and the behind the scenes sneak peeks. Our job is to bring to the readers what they can’t get on the page. (We) really give them a feel for the glamour of what it’s like to be on the IMPULSE team on and off the page, as well as show them what they can look forward to.”
The future looks bright for IMPULSE, as the staff has many ideas for how the magazine can continue to thrive for the long run.
“I would like to see this magazine branch out to a lot of the students who are not … involved in the Greek life or in many campus groups,” Baileau said. “As a freshman, I wasn’t involved in anything and I felt I didn’t have a place on this campus. At the time, I wish I had something like IMPULSE to read that could introduce me to students on campus who shared the same interests.”
Gollayan’s vision for IMPULSE demonstrates the magazine’s versatility. “I want IMPULSE to become a vessel for great storytelling – whether through fashion, photography or editorial. I know the magazine will continue to grow as a venue for U. of I. students to practice a unique kind of journalism.”
Working with IMPULSE has been highly beneficial for the professional development of its staff.
“IMPULSE has given me so many opportunities,” Gollayan said. “Last summer, I interned for DETAILS, one of the top men’s magazines in the country. I’ve shown IMPULSE to some of the top editors and graphic designers in the industry, and they were all impressed that a campus publication staff could produce something like this.”
In addition to its impact on the professional lives of the staff, the experiences students are given at IMPULSE have also taught them many valuable life lessons.
“(I’ve learned to) never judge a book by its cover,” Baileau said. “After covering so many student features, I’ve heard and read many stories about students that have really touched me and made me look at life differently. You never know what the story is of the stranger walking past you down the Quad; don’t judge by appearance.”
Aragon says that working with the magazine has taught her the importance of setting high goals to accomplish. “I learned that you have to dream big. This magazine, at one point, was just an idea, but (Katerina Bizios, the original editor-in-chief) had a vision, and she took responsibility for that vision and made it a reality. When you really want something, you have to get it.”
Baileau’s philosophy about the magazine’s impact on the campus is simple but powerful. “Everyone has a story, but nobody is listening. IMPULSE makes them heard.”
Madeline Ley, of Mundelein, Ill., is a senior majoring in history and communication with a minor in French. She began an internship with the News Bureau in Public Affairs in May 2012.