Prague students launch first study abroad zine
Lyndsey Bluver
Issue date: 4/2/07 Section: News
Students studying at NYU in Prague recently launched a webzine, the first at one of the university's nine study abroad sites.
The content in the webzine, "The Prague Wanderer," is made up of articles both written for classes and specifically for the site.
The webzine is staffed by seven NYU student interns who said editing submissions was the easy part. Learning to design and create a website proved more complicated.
"This is so exciting because this is the first to be created in Prague and at any other study abroad site," co-editor-in-chief April Antonellis said. "Anytime you have the opportunity to do the first of anything, I think you should take it."
The articles, columns and top-10 lists revolve around the common theme of student life in a foreign country. The editors hope to update the site bi-weekly.
The debut issue, which was posted March 9, includes "Authentic Bohemian, made in China," documenting a reporter's attempt to find a genuine Czech souvenir (not made in China), and "Homeless try not to be helpless," which compares the outgoing New York homeless who will openly ask for change, to the meek, passive homeless of the Czech Republic.
A critical review of the Czech hip-hop scene and advice on dealing with the mistranslated menus were other highlights of the first issue. Some articles are from students' experiences in Prague last semester.
The group has no funding and limited experience in the field.
Dinah Spritzer, their adviser, gives them a lot of credit for balancing the webzine with school and traveling.
"Unlike working for the school newspaper, students are only here for four months," Spritzer said. "All the work is done by students who are also exploring Prague, exploring the Czech Republic, traveling and juggling classes."
A link to the webzine, as well of some of its content, will be featured on the websites of major news publications in Prague, such as "The Prague Post" and "The Prague Monitor."
The content in the webzine, "The Prague Wanderer," is made up of articles both written for classes and specifically for the site.
The webzine is staffed by seven NYU student interns who said editing submissions was the easy part. Learning to design and create a website proved more complicated.
"This is so exciting because this is the first to be created in Prague and at any other study abroad site," co-editor-in-chief April Antonellis said. "Anytime you have the opportunity to do the first of anything, I think you should take it."
The articles, columns and top-10 lists revolve around the common theme of student life in a foreign country. The editors hope to update the site bi-weekly.
The debut issue, which was posted March 9, includes "Authentic Bohemian, made in China," documenting a reporter's attempt to find a genuine Czech souvenir (not made in China), and "Homeless try not to be helpless," which compares the outgoing New York homeless who will openly ask for change, to the meek, passive homeless of the Czech Republic.
A critical review of the Czech hip-hop scene and advice on dealing with the mistranslated menus were other highlights of the first issue. Some articles are from students' experiences in Prague last semester.
The group has no funding and limited experience in the field.
Dinah Spritzer, their adviser, gives them a lot of credit for balancing the webzine with school and traveling.
"Unlike working for the school newspaper, students are only here for four months," Spritzer said. "All the work is done by students who are also exploring Prague, exploring the Czech Republic, traveling and juggling classes."
A link to the webzine, as well of some of its content, will be featured on the websites of major news publications in Prague, such as "The Prague Post" and "The Prague Monitor."
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