#MediaMonday – Carly Scholl
Today’s #MediaMonday comes from Carly Scholl, digital editor for Cities West Media, overseeing all online content for both PHOENIX and Phoenix Home & Garden magazines.
How did you get into reporting/editing in the first place? What’s your story?
I originally wanted to go into museum curatorial work, so I snowballed my love for reading, writing and art into a Bachelor’s degree in English literature and art history at Azusa Pacific University in Southern California. My first real job out of college was as the Fashion Editor at Cowgirl magazine, and I fell in love with curating other people’s sartorial designs into an original composition that would reach the reader in an emotional, artistic way. I then went on to become assistant editor at Phoenix Home & Garden, and got to continue that creative work with designers and architects. Now, I’m the digital editor for both Phoenix Home & Garden and PHOENIX magazine, and I’m “curating” for a completely different platform!
Tell us about each of the sites you manage, and the content for each?
Phoenix Home & Garden just recently launched a brand new website, and it’s a beautiful place for the magazine’s content to live online…stunning, large-scale photos, web-exclusive extras and a capacity for regular blogs in the very near future. We’ve taken the structure of the magazine’s new design and replicated it online so that readers can have a seamless experience moving back and forth between print and digital content.
PHOENIX is in the process of redeveloping its website at the moment, and I’m so looking forward to its debut. All of the amazing content you love will have a new home on a site that reflects the dynamic, fun and high-impact nature of the magazine. I also manage all the social media accounts for both magazines, too!
Where did you grow up?
Born and raised in Phoenix, baby. (Paradise Valley to be exact.)
Favorite type of music?
An impossible question. Everything from Frank Ocean to Lyle Lovett, LCD Soundsystem to SZA, Mos Def to Miles Davis, Talking Heads to The Tallest Man on Earth.
Favorite color?
Turquoise
Favorite place to visit?
Prague, Czech Republic
What are some of your favorite local spots or things to do?
My dad and I are avid, self-proclaimed craft beer connoisseurs, so we’re often wetting our whistles at the local watering holes…our latest venture was to King’s Beer & Wine in Phoenix and Goldmine in Old Town Scottsdale. I also love rock climbing at AZ on the Rocks, trivia nights at Skeptical Chemist, early-2000s-hip-hop dance parties at Crescent Ballroom, novel hunting at Changing Hands Bookstore, cocktail sipping at Bitter & Twisted, taco eating at Diego Pops or day tripping to Sedona and Page Springs Cellars. And long walks on the beach, I guess.
Favorite food?
Tamales, thai curry, Ethiopian injera bread, breakfast burritos, pasta, popovers, my mom’s roasted chicken…is it possible to be superlative about food?
Least favorite food?
Any and all seafood. Gross. I guess you can be superlative…
Three things readers would be surprised to know about you?
I studied British literature and French impressionism at University of Oxford for a trimester during my college years.
None of my friends or family call me Carly…I’m either Curls, Caramel, Carly Jean (not my middle name), Carlisle (not my given name), or my personal favorite: Mickey Cheeseball (thanks, mom.) The list goes on.
One of my bucket list items is attending Paris Fashion Week, and I actually get to go this September! I’ve already started packing…
What should people be pitching you?
Pitch me blog ideas! We don’t focus much on store/restaurant/development “openings” but we do love to share with our readers special deals, events, new products, etc. We also love learning about historical happenings, fun food, great design and interesting locals.
We also have lots of opportunities for social media take-overs and partnerships!
What is the lead time you need for content?
A week is the minimum I need to turn something around for blog fodder.
What is the best way to reach you?
Hand-written note, attached to a breakfast burrito, delivered to my desk. But if that’s too much trouble, email me! carly.scholl@citieswestmedia.com
