This week we spoke with freelance journalist Erica Young who contributes to writing her section of Palate under the dining section of South Jersey Magazine. Young is a graduate of Rowan University and also studied aboard at Kingston University in London, England. She resides in Collingswood, New Jersey; one of the most ideal places to live if you review restaurants on your free time.
“It’s really convenient living here. Downtown has so many different restaurant options from Italian, Spanish, and Asian. There’s a good variety, luckily we can still order take out from some lf our favorite places.”
The conversation then switched over to how the COVID-19 pandemic has effected Erica’s work. “It’s difficult because I can’t go out to do the review for the magazine but luckily we were able to do the March edition.
Erica only works for the magazine now as a freelance journalist although she was an assistant editor for South Jersey Magazine for about five and half years until 2017. She was also the managing editor for Suburban Family Magazine during the same time. Currently she workers as a marketing content developer for ARI and Holman Automotive in her hometown of Mount Laurel.
I asked Erica what she thought was the most difficult/rewarding part about maintaining an online publication. Her response was one in the same when she singled out providing content. “You have to keep up with posts, stories and reviews and not just for the restaurant stuff even if I enjoy covering that the most. At the same time it’s also such a good feeling when you get a new post up.”
I went on to ask her thoughts on digital journalism and how it fits in the future of journalism as a whole. Her response was one that many could identify with during times like these. “I think digital journalism is integral for the future. We’re having to practice social distancing now because of the coronavirus but arguably were more connected then ever through online mediums.”
Lastly I asked her about use of social media to promote content. Since Erica wrote for magazines she left it mostly up to them to promote her work although Erica does use her Instagram promote one of her hobbies of making crafts. Recently she just created 20 homage masks for medical professions in need, check them out here.
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