This week Her Campus caught up with Lucy, the Co-Editor of Lippy Magazine. Her Campus’s sister society and much-loved friend.
1. Hi Lucy, tell us a bit about yourself – where are you from, what are you studying, what are your interests?
Hello, I’m from London and I’m studying French and International Development. I’m interested in foreign languages, Lippy, journalism, reggaeton, cooking and working my way through box sets, currently on Season 2 of Supernatural!
2. Tell us about how you first got involved with Lippy and a bit about what it’s about.
So Lippy is Leeds University Union’s alternative women’s magazine and I first got involved with Lippy in my first year. It’s primarily an online magazine but we have two print editions every year, centred around a theme. Our first edition this year will themed around “Boundaries” I didn’t have an editing role then but was a regular writer. I think I was drawn by the “alternative” stance it took, in that it wasn’t really celebrity based – it was genuine interesting and often controversial debate, with some film, fashion and music fun too!
3. What made you decide to run for the Co-Editor position?
I think it was because I had such a great time in my first year and wanted to have more responsibility and have more creative input. I really love the whole ethos behind Lippy and that we champion a “no gloss” attitude in our writing.
4. What does the role entail?
It’s a really varied role, it doesn’t just involve copy editing, it’s about bringing ideas to the table and helping to build a successful magazine and keep our wonderful team motivated. It’s a big job; one that I’m lucky enough to share with my fellow Co-Editor and Co-President Kate Ryrie.
5. How do you get the tricky social/work life balance? What’s a typical week in the life of the Lippy Co-Editor?
Good question! Some weeks it feels like I don’t! I enjoy my role as Co-Editor and don’t really see it as work which definitely helps. As far as uni work goes… ask me another? A typical week involving all things Lippy means planning for our writer’s, marketing and design meeting which happen on Wednesday afternoons. This means chatting with the rest of the committee to make an agenda and see what to prioritise at the meeting, a very important task as the printing deadline draws nearer! Mondays and Tuesdays see the updating of our fashion and music blogs, which include things from gig reviews to DIY manicures. Thursday might be a social, we do like to soak up Leeds’ nightlife! The weekend is when Kate and I are expecting the articles from this week to arrive in our inboxes after being edited by our sub-editing team before we do a final read through and upload them to the website! And then it all begins again! Not forgetting those hectic weeks when we have a fashion shoot to organise or a meeting with the printers!
6. Any big plan this year for the society? Any exciting events or features coming up?
I think the plan this year is to continue the brilliant work of Lottie and Scout (last year’s president’s/co-editors) with the hope to include articles on science, travel and food, topics we haven’t necessarily focused on before! Of course we’d like to expand the reach of our magazine and make a magazine that will make our hard-working team very proud. Coming up in November is the launch of our first magazine this year on our interpretation of the theme Boundaries, accompanied by a big launch party naturally!
7. How can people get involved?
We are always looking for writer’s, designers, marketers, photographers and illustrators so the best thing would be to drop us an e mail at lippymag@gmail.com or come along to our weekly meetings which happen in Room 5 of the union on a Wednesday afternoon from 1-3pm.
8. Her Campus prides itself on being written by women for women very similarly to Lippy. Can people be members of both?
Yes of course! I like to think Her Campus and Lippy complement each other by providing a platform for people to express themselves no matter what their interest. Also its great in that together we add to the diversity of the Union’s media provision as a whole.
9. Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Just a big thank you for featuring me as your Campus Celebrity and hopefully we can work together some more this year.