Ink Magazine releases first issue

For the staffers at Ink Magazine, the new year brings a sense of optimism and a drive to solidify themselves as a publication.

The magazine is a student-run publication that works within the Student Media Center.

“Out of the ashes of The Vine and Monument Ink,” as stated on the magazine’s Facebook group, Ink Magazine published its first issue this past December. This semester, the staff plans to publish three new issues.

Executive Editor Rich Griset said he was disappointed the magazine did not meet its goal of publishing two issues last semester, but the problems they faced should not come up again.

“We had some red-tape problems,” Griset said. “It took us a while to get the name changed . and then making sure our funding was all together.”

Pippa Curran, a former English major who no longer attends VCU, was a staff writer for the magazine last semester and said Griset handled the hurdles well.

“I was disappointed (the magazine did not meet its publishing goal). I think everybody was,” Curran said.

Another problem the magazine dealt with after publication was copy-editing mistakes.

“(It’s) late at night and you’ve looked over something so many times that you can’t give it your best editing eyes,” Griset said.

Mass communications major Frances Correa, the magazine’s senior reporter, said the typos were not a significant problem.

“There were some typos,” Correa said. “But isn’t that sort of the natural thing when something is printed, you want to go back and change everything?”

Correa said the lack of multiple issues last semester would strengthen the magazine this semester.

“We had everything we needed,” Correa said. “But now we have enough material and all the funding and all the things we need to get three issues out.”

Correa and Griset agreed that a larger staff would also bolster the quality of the publication.

“We’re bringing in more photographers and illustrators and . people to help out with layout,” Griset said. “I just know a lot of people. I’m not the smartest guy in the room, but you know who they are and I bring them in.”

Curran said, “The first issue looks awesome. It’s going to be really exciting to see how the future issues turn out.”

The second issue is scheduled to be released Feb. 4.