I knew this would happen.

I knew I’d arrive at the end of the term and start struggling over the "Letter from the Editor" part of the inFlux project. I knew what people would expect from the letter: a profound explanation for why the Web is such a great new tool in magazine journalism—and more specifically, why inFlux is such a valuable counterpart to Flux.

The answer is, I don’t know. Nobody really knows, in fact. For years, those of us interested in online journalism have been scrambling to figure out how the Web fits into the vast landscape of American magazines—and we’ve essentially been learning as we go along.

InFlux is certainly no exception. For ten weeks, my staff and I pondered ways to remain a consistent counterpart to Flux and still have a distinct personality. We wanted to distinguish ourselves creatively and at the same time adhere to the high writing and design standards of the print version. Most importantly, we wanted to make use of the Web's vast resources and capabilities to enhance the stories—but we didn't want to go overboard.

It’s a tough balance, but that’s what makes an online magazine so interesting. In the realm between the traditional and the new, a revolutionary chapter in journalism is beginning. The inFlux staff is lucky to be part of it.

Unlike a print magazine, there’s virtually unlimited space on the Web. We used that opportunity to offer more student writing and photography to explore new angles and issues related to Flux’s stories. After you read about makeup’s impact on women’s self esteem in "All Made Up," for example, you can read about its questionable ingredients and its colorful history. We also used the Web’s multimedia capabilities to take readers deeper into stories and beyond just words and images on a page. In "Emergency Exit," for example, readers can listen to the words of Enese Kohlhaas, a Hungarian woman who helped hijack a plane to escape communism in 1956. Her voice adds a powerful element to an already powerful story.

InFlux is still young, but it’s growing each year. As Web journalism continues to develop, so will we. The inferiority complex that the inFlux staff seems to suffer each year is already fading. And the small space we’ve carved out for ourselves will become wide-open territory. So sit back, relax, and enjoy this site. Welcome to the future of Flux.

Steve Burnett designed "Dressed to Impress" and "Preaching to the Choir." He's a senior magazine journalism major from Bend, and after he graduates in the fall of '99, he's hoping to find work at a magazine or a Web publishing firm. If not, he'll return to Bend and go snowboarding.

Josh Hough designed "One Last Catch" and "Love@Last." He's a senior majoring in magazine journalism and this fall he's planning on traveling. Eventually, he'd like to find a job somewhere in the Willamette Valley that would incorporate both writing and design.

Carol Rink designed "Holy Orders" and "Out on a Limb." She's a sophomore majoring in magazine journalism, and this summer she'll return home to San Diego to intern at a local music and lifestyle magazine. Her spare time will be spent attending as many Padres games as possible.

Online Editor Shannon Sneed spent the term worrying, setting deadlines and obsessing over details. She's a senior magazine journalism major from Baltimore, and this summer she'll spend five weeks cruising around the country to celebrate her graduation. After that, she may join the stampede to the Bay Area.

Kim Wallace designed "Emergency Exit" and "The Man Who Would be King." She's a graduate student in journalism from San Francisco, and this summer she'll return home to work at an online health information company. Eventually, she’s planning to work in Web publishing.

John Woodward designed "Pressed to the Mat," the table of contents, and all the non-story pages. A senior from Roseville, CA (and the sole returning "inFluxer" from last year), John spent a good deal of time designing the fabulous "digital dessert" ad in Flux. After graduation, John hopes to do both print and online freelance design work. He plans to move to either the San Francisco or Portland area.

Emily Aanderud wrote "Seeing the Forest for the Trees," an online feature about the history of the treesitters/Forest Service conflict. She’s a senior with a double major in magazine journalism and French, and she's moving to New York City in the fall.

Eric Collins wrote "Songs of Freedom," a sidebar about gospel music’s influence on the civil rights movement in the 1960s. Collins is a senior majoring in magazine journalism and minoring in history, and he hopes to work in newspapers after he graduates.

Laura Lucas wrote online sidebars about Singapore’s government dating service and the ingredients of makeup. Lucas, a junior majoring in magazine journalism, plans to intern at a magazine in New Orleans this summer.

Autumn Madrano wrote online sidebars about the histories of makeup and tango. She’s a senior majoring in magazine journalism with a minor in women’s studies, and this summer she’ll head to New York to intern at Ms. magazine.

Cori Poletto produced the video clip of John Gainer's May 23 gospel concert. She's a senior advertising major, and this summer she'll return home to Rochester, NY to pursue an advertising career.

inFlux staff 1999 (clockwise from left): Carol Rink, Kim Wallace, Josh Hough,
John Woodward, Melissa Bond, Shannon Sneed, Steve Burnett.

Feedback:
Send e-mail to the 1999 inFlux staff
Contact Carol Ann Bassett, faculty advisor for Flux 2000.

inFlux was created primarily using:
Power Macintosh 8600 and G3 computers, SimpleText, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Premiere, Adobe GoLive, MoviePlayer, SoundEdit 16, Fetch, Netscape Navigator, Internet Explorer, iCab, and HotJava.