Name: Clarissa Cruz
Job Title and Description: Fashion Features Editor of O Magazine
College/Major: (Undergraduate School) Boston College/ English and Communications; (Graduate School) Columbia University/ Journalism
Twitter Handle: @clarissanyc1
What does your current job entail? Is there such a thing as a typical day?
Clarissa Cruz: I write and edit all fashion copy and the “behind the scenes” pages. I also edit “O List” and the year-end “Favorite Things List.” There is no “typical day!” Some days I’m writing and editing, other days I’m on a fashion shoot or a shoot with Oprah, and some days I’m tasting cakes for “O List.”
What is the best part of your job?
CC: Working with “real women” for fashion stories. I was in celebrity journalism for many years and while that was quite exciting in its own way, it’s very satisfying to see the kinds of transformations that can take place at non-celebrity shoots. They aren’t always used to being made over and the process can be very emotional and life changing. It’s also amazing [to work] for a magazine that readers feel such a personal connection to—even stars who we’ve shot for fashion stories make it a point to mention how influential Oprah has been in their lives.
What was your first entry-level job in your field and how did you get it?
CC: I was an editorial assistant at Entertainment Weekly. I had always wanted to be a magazine writer, always loved books, movies, TV, and music, and EW was my favorite magazine. When I was in graduate school, I took a cultural reporting class and ended up writing a lot of my stories in EW’s style, just to see if I could. My professor, Phyl Garland, noticed this and encouraged me—and she happened to be friends with an editor at EW who told her the magazine was looking for assistants. She recommended me for the job, I interviewed, and I started the summer after graduation.
Who is one person who changed your professional life for the better?
CC: Jeannie Park, a former top editor at Entertainment Weekly, Instyle, and People. She hired me at EW and then later at People. She’s a brilliant manager, skillful editor, and seems to know absolutely everyone. She’s always been a great mentor and still is.
You’ve previously worked at publications with very different target audiences (such as InStyle and Entertainment Weekly). How difficult was it to adapt to these different markets? Do you have any tips?
CC: It wasn’t difficult because I love fashion and pop culture. As long as you have a genuine interest in the subject you’re covering, I don’t think you can go wrong. Good journalism is good journalism, no matter the subject or audience.
What words of wisdom do you find most valuable?
CC: Stephen Silverman, one of my professors at Columbia (and later one of my colleagues at People), told me the three keys to surviving the magazine industry:
- Don’t be late, either getting to work or handing in your copy.
- Respect word counts.
- Dress the part.
My dad taught me that the direct approach is best. When I was a kid and someone did something hurtful to me, he would say, “Instead of crying or snapping back, just say point blank, ‘Why did you do that?’ Oftentimes, the person is so thrown off by the direct question, they answer honestly and the situation is diffused. I used this technique in so many celebrity interviews…I’ve lost count! Not that celebrities were being hurtful, but sometimes you have to cut through the BS and just get them to be real, and a blunt question (usually the one that everyone is thinking but doesn’t ask) is the best way to do that.
What is one mistake you made along the way and what did you learn from it?
CC: It was really hard for me to delegate for the longest time. I didn’t trust that someone else would give a task the same care that I would. So I ended up taking on too much and not giving everything my best effort. I eventually learned that when you delegate and have faith in other people, they usually rise to the occasion.
Many people say print journalism is a dying industry. What do you have to say to that?
CC: I love my Kindle, iPhone, and iPad as much as everyone else, but I still get excited when I get my stack of magazines in the mail each month. There’s just something about looking at gorgeous photography on paper instead of a screen, and what else are you supposed to read in the bathtub, at the beach, or on the plane after the flight attendant tells you to turn everything off?
What do you look for when considering hiring someone?
CC: Spelling! It’s amazing how many people have grammatical errors in their cover letters and emails. An upbeat, energetic attitude is also important—if you’re interviewing for an entry-level job, you have not earned the right to be jaded. Finally, a keen interest in working for a particular publication is so important. Say something specific about why you want to work there instead of just, “I love your magazine.”
What advice would you give to a 20-something with similar aspirations?
CC: Don’t forget the “journalism” part of being a fashion journalist—loving fashion is not enough. You need to hone your skill as a writer and reporter in order to be successful. Embracing change is also important—media and the way readers like to get their information is constantly in flux, and you can’t be afraid to use new platforms in order to get your message across.