SWA 1

Part 1

Research Question: How does having a specific audience influence what and how you write?

I am curious to know how having a set audience (current members and alumni of Pi Beta Phi) influences the content and means of writing, and how content is chosen and maintains originality. I am also interested to know how much creative liberty these writers have, since much of the content is dependent on topics that already exist, rather than subjects they would seek out.

This course has made me think of writing as a commodity within an information/attention economy by a specific group who then fuels this by fixating on certain pieces of writing. I wonder how having a certain audience plays into the attention economy, since not everyone has access to this information.

I have reached out to people who write for The Arrow and will interview people who are willing to answer my questions. I would love to talk to people from older and younger generations and who have worked there for varying amounts of times so that I can acquire multiple perspectives and obtain a well-rounded view of the company, its practices, and its place in the economy.  I will also read past issues of the magazine as an observation so that I can get a feel for the writing and subjects independent from the authors and people involved in production.

Part 2

• How did you become employed at The Arrow?
• How has being a member of Pi Beta Phi given you writing opportunities?
• What does a typical day look like for you?
• How much of your writing is influenced by the writing of VP Communications (current members/students)?
• How do you maintain originality in your writing?
• How is your writing influenced by the scope of people it will reach?
  • How does the specificity of the brand and audience challenge/limit/enhance?

Recruitment Script:

Thank you so much for agreeing to speak with me. I am conducting a project for an English seminar about writing and money and the role of writing in/relation to the economy. Before we begin I wanted to make sure that you are comfortable discussing this topic and participating in my research, and also to see if it is alright with you that I record this interview.