Past Projects
Regional Identity Web Magazine
The Regional Economic Development (REDA) submits our Regional Identity online magazine (www.regionalidentity.com) as Program of the Year. The Regional Identity is a magazine that is dedicated to researching, investigating, and discussing regional academic, business, and government issues from a student perspective. Some of the issues covered in the magazine included the closure and future of ASARCO, the Mexican drug war, the border wall, the City Council “drug legalization” legislation, the prospective role of the El Paso Regional Economic Development Corporation (REDCo) in stimulating El Paso’s tourism industry, and the economic outlook of El Paso.
The Regional Identity publishes a new issue biweekly (every two weeks), which consists of three featured articles. During issue intervals, numerous reports and blogs are posted of relevant events and findings. The magazine features a photo gallery that displays individuals, architecture, landmarks, events, and scenes from El Paso and Juárez. Additionally, the magazine features a calendar that is constantly up-to-date with regional happenings and venues. A biweekly poll regarding regional issues is also featured on the magazine front page (Such as, “What do you think should happen to the ASARCO site?). Outside of the web, the magazine has hosted/will host events that are pertinent to our region, such as the “Adios ASARCO, Hello Future!” event and “We Are Scared: Students against the Drug War” event.
The magazine was made by the students for the students. Each article, blog, photo, graphic, drawing, and video posted on the Regional Identity is a product of student intuition and innovation. Members of REDA staff the magazine; however, outside students are encouraged to participate in content compilation and discussion. Discussion is made possible via the moderated comments section found at the bottom of every article and blog.
The 2008-2009 academic years mark the first years of online publication. The magazine will continue to be developed and improved on by REDA. The magazine serves as a fully-functional online magazine (search, archive, and commentary functions) and operates under a business model. Advertisements and sponsorships are sold to advertisers seeking to attract those in the realm of academia, especially college-aged individuals.
The goals of the Regional Identity are to promote and engage in student activism and development, progress student writing and analytical skills, advance Hispanic photography and journalism, influence policy and economic development through discussion and debate (especially through our events), and to create a more informed student body.
As the largest Hispanic Serving Institution in the United States, UTEP offers a perspective and identity incomparable to any other entity in the nation. As students, REDA firmly believes that the student body should create its own identity and pave their own way into the future. The magazine intends to do just that.
Considering that the magazine runs under a business model and is operated by a registered non-for-profit student organization, the Regional Identity also strives to provide its staffers with a real entity in which they can exercise real business practices and work ethic.
The Regional Identity has already immensely benefited and impacted its community, the student body, and regional politics.
Aside from the report authors, journalists, photographers, graphic designers, and artists whom profited from practice and exposure (to some in a scale previously unreached), the very content of work has reached thousands of individuals- many of whom were not aware of the various issues and events that our region holds.
Additionally, the magazine has worked with various different groups of people with the unified goal of sharing information and knowledge. For example, the Regional Identity worked with middle school students from Alderete Middle School in capturing and conceptualizing a sit down interview they had with a Holocaust survivor (http://www.regionalidentity.com/holocaust-survivor-meets-ams). For the middle school students, the cameras and reporters made their learning exciting and gave their work a sense of importance. At UTEP, the Regional Identity staff has partnered with different organizations, such as the Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization (http://www.regionalidentity.com/eet), in bringing exposure to campus and student-developed events and programs. To assist the UTEP student body in being intelligent and informed in their voting during the 2009-2010 SGA elections, the magazine interviewed the three presidential candidates and hosted the video interviews on the magazine website (http://www.regionalidentity.com/sgaelections).
UTEP Student Government Association President, Julio Diaz, has praised the magazine and its success. He feels the Regional Identity has created a strong foundation for the future of the Regional Economic Development Association. Editor-in-Chief of El Paso Media Group, Lisa Degliantoni, commented that the Regional Identity was exactly what El Paso needs and deserves from its students. In order to pledge her commitment to the Regional Identity program, Degliantoni promised to feature its work on her popular El Paso online newspaper and radio show, the NewspaperTree and Charlando con la Grina, respectively. State Senator Eliot Shapleigh commented that the magazine was a fantastic way to creatively reach the students about the various issues of our city. Shapleigh acknowledged the hard work of the magazine by assisting the Regional Identity sponsored initiative of discussing the potential future uses of the ASARCO-site through the magazine. With the ASARCO initiative, the magazine, due to its large audience and staff innovation, is in a position to potentially influence policy and kindle legit discussion regarding an issue that directly impacts hundreds of thousands of people.
The Regional Identity program has been successful because it has already accomplished all the goals that it set out to do. In its own respects, the magazine definitely promoted and engaged in student activism and development, progressed student writing and analytical schools, advanced Hispanic photography and journalism, influenced policy and economic development through discussion and debate, created a more informed student body, and has served as an excellent business entity.
In regards to student development, the Regional Identity has already directly led to internships for two of its staffers. The two members, Richard Sapien and Diego Rico, are currently working with Dr. Joseph Villescas and his firm Villescas Research, Media & Instruction. They are learning about polling methodologies, statistics gathering, grassroots marketing, and the planning, preparation, and research necessary to most effectively compile website content and media.
The magazine has published over 20 articles (including editorial pieces, recommendation reports, critical analysis pieces, journalistic-styled reports, and PSA’s), 15 blogs, nearly 100 photographs, and four videos. Its ongoing coverage regarding the future of the ASARCO site, along with the continuing guidance and cooperation from Villescas Research, Media & Instruction (http://www.villescas.org), definitely has helped the magazine staff put itself in position to influence regional policy and economic development. Finally, informational blogs and calendar listings, have kept students informed and up-to-date. The magazine’s polling and commentary software has drawn in nearly 100 responses each, including comments ranging from doctoral students to Border Patrol agents. The magazine traffic has exceeded all expectations: having attracted nearly 3,000 different viewers and over 6,000 page hits in just three short months. Finally, the magazine and its events have been featured on the El Paso Times (twice), NewspaperTree, the UTEP Prospector (front page twice), What’s Up El Paso, and numerous other media outlets.
As for its purpose of serving as a real business, the Regional Identity has already required its staff to execute promotional campaigns and strategies (Facebook, MySpace, Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/ridentity)), practice general accounting, develop a marketing pitch and portfolio, network with various individuals, business, and organizations, and produce quality work in a timely and cooperative manner. Although the magazine covers topics that include entrepreneurship, it has provided its staff with an opportunity to practice what they preach.
The Regional Identity magazine should be selected as Program of the Year because it embodies the three principles in which UTEP abides by: accessibility, research, and excellence.
Accessible to all, research-driven, and never done before all describe the Regional Identity program. The magazine requires work that offers nothing but personal and social improvement in return. The Regional Identity staff set out to “do something.” Do something impactful, innovative, and impressive. Although requiring 40 to 50 hours a week, nearly 50 publications, 6,000 hits, and hundreds of positive and constructive comments later, it is not an exaggeration to say “it was all worth it.”
The Regional Identity program should be Program of the Year because it would signify that the Student Development Center is committed to honoring the hard, quality work of students who take a progressive stance for not only their future, but for the future of their community and university.
