Dear Readers,
It has been over a year since the inception of
Swigged! and though the site has slowly blossomed into its
current form, we held off creating this statement for
numerous reasons. At the forefront of this struggle was our
difficulty in defining our role as a publication. Are we a
music and entertainment website? Or are we a political
journal? Do we want to cover hard-hitting news events that
shape our world? Or do we want to discuss Amy Winehouse’s
latest cocaine-induced theatrics? Unfortunately, as of
today, we are no closer to defining that answer than we were
since Swigged! began in April 2008.
In a lot of ways, Swigged! represents a dichotomy
present in today’s youth. On one hand, we as a generation
are slated to face a whole variety of issues concerning the
maturation of a global society. Two major conflicts abroad,
a tanking economy, and an ever present trend towards
globalization have all created issues in which no other
generation has had the privilege of inheriting. It is
because of that simple fact that many of today’s youth
recognize the necessity to be prepared to tackle the issues
of tomorrow and as such, find a longing for news on world
events and politics. On the other hand, no other generation
prior has had to cope with the bombardment of media that in
many respects define the lives of many people today. From
intrusive online advertisements to cell phones, kids today
are introduced to more forms of media and communication than
ever before. Simply put, it’s pretty fucking easy for a
person to lose themselves in all the distractions we
encounter. Finding that balance is what we aim to achieve.
At its core, we at Swigged!
feel that politics and entertainment are entangled far more
than most of today’s elders would admit. The entertainment
and popular culture of an era in many respects provide a
historical cultural context through which the political
events have manifested themselves. Covering politics without
entertainment, in our opinion, is like peanut butter without
jelly – it’s only half the story (or sandwich). Likewise,
covering entertainment without politics simply acts as a
masturbatory indulgence that in the end, will bring us no
further in developing a better world.
Truth be told, Swigged! vies to cover the news that
will invariably define us as a generation. We are light on
the gimmicks, so if you’re looking for ‘Top 100’ charts,
album reviews or partisan hackery, feel free to visit the
likes of Rolling Stone or Drudge Report. Instead, we try and
focus our attention on the many creative and influential
people that shape our lives. Their stories and their art
will always be at the forefront of our presentations. Our
mission is to bring you closer to the people that impact
your life – whether it be musically, politically, or even
spiritually – and to examine what makes them tick. With the
introduction of mySwig, we hope to form a community that
share a common thirst for knowledge and a passion for the
arts. SwiggedTV – which is still in its early stages – will
give us a new way to broadcast our stories. As long as we
are around, we hope to provide a forum for which critical
thinking and unconventional wisdom are cherished, not
shunned. So whether you’re a Republican, Libertarian,
Democrat, or Independent – or whether you like rap, metal,
or country music - we invite all to become apart of our
ever-growing community.
Welcome to Swigged!
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Swigternships! |
| Looking to break
into the journalism field? Want to interview
your favorite bands? Swigged!'s
internship program will allow current student and
recent graduates the chance to spread their wings
and develop skills in many fields relevant to media
and journalism. All internships are unpaid,
but candidates still attending university may be
eligible for college credit. |
Internships are
available in the following fields: web development
and design, editorial and journalism, videography
and editing.
Interested candidates should
send resumes and relevant work samples to
jobs@swigged.net.
Please don't bother sending a cover letter unless you have
a truly good story to tell. |
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