AimerAmour Magazine and event planning firm United We Function produced essential media workshop for millennials

Justin Hunte, Editor-in-Chief of HipHopDX; Danielle Cadet Senior Editor ESPN; Courtney Whitaker, Weekend Editor of Madame Noire; Wavelery Coleman, Founder of United We Function; Dana Droppo, Senior Editor Complex Media; Zon D’Amour, Editor-in-Chief of AimerAmour Magazine; Charles Handy, Lead Editor at REVOLT.
Justin Hunte, Editor-in-Chief of HipHopDX; Danielle Cadet Senior Editor ESPN; Courtney Whitaker, Weekend Editor of Madame Noire; Waverly Coleman, Founder of United We Function; Dana Droppo, Senior Editor Complex Media; Zon D’Amour, Editor-in-Chief of AimerAmour Magazine; Charles Handy, Lead Editor at REVOLT. (Lorenzo Diggins Jr.)

In a sense everyone in the journalism field “edits”. A writer revises articles. A video journalist selects their strongest scenes. A proofreader finds better words to make a sentence complete. They are all editing to make a package as comprehensive as possible.

Editors take on all of those innumerable tasks and push out quality products through effective leadership. “What Is…An Editor?” hosted by AimerAmour Magazine and United We Function was an excellent opportunity for attendees to learn how to hone in on the skill sets needed to be an efficient editor.

“We work in a trade that is constantly changing; if you don’t adapt and evolve with it, you’ll get left behind,” said Danielle Cadet, Senior Editor at ESPN. “Taking on the role of an editor means that you have to know how to manage product, the staff you oversee, and be aware of what good writing is,” she added.

The panel and master classes were held on June 20th at the Westside Pavilion. Aspiring artists, hosts, bloggers, journalists and entrepreneurs received insight on how to sustain careers within the media industry.

Founder of United We Function Waverly Coleman and Editor-in-Chief of AimerAmour Magazine Zon D’Amour created the series “What is..?” to enlighten young professionals in the media industry.  (Lorenzo Diggins Jr.)
Founder of United We Function Waverly Coleman and Editor-in-Chief of AimerAmour Magazine Zon D’Amour created the series “What is..?” to enlighten young professionals in the media industry. (Lorenzo Diggins Jr.)

The elite panel included: Danielle Cadet, Senior Editor ESPN; Dana Droppo, Senior Editor Complex Media; Courtney Whitaker, Weekend Editor of Madame Noire; Justin Hunte Editor-in-Chief of HipHopDX and Charles Handy, Lead Editor at REVOLT.

“If you want to be an editor and a good one at that, you have to ask yourself a major question. Where does your creativity lie?” said Justin Hunte. “You have to be able to build people up and show them what they need to do in order to become great.”

AimerAmour Magazine Editor-In-Chief, Zon D’Amour, moderated the panel. After the success of her inaugural “What Is…?” series event, “What Is…A Producer?”, D’Amour wanted to create a platform for her media colleagues to learn from some of the most accomplished and well-respected editors in the industry.

“Collaboration is key to being a successful editor. Staying focused as a team keeps everything on the right path,” said Dana Droppo.

Master Class attendees and panelists pose with program creators Waverly Coleman and Zon D’Amour. (Lorenzo Diggins Jr.)
Master Class attendees and panelists pose with program creators Waverly Coleman and Zon D’Amour. (Lorenzo Diggins Jr.)

Following the panel, attendees participated in intimate breakout sessions/master classes where the panelists gave insight and critiques to participants on how to go about building their personal brands.

Some of the valuable advice given during the breakout sessions included ways to improve production for creative spaces that push out articles, videos and various other areas of the industry.

“I loved how we all exchanged ideas, different stories and advice. I think that is the most practical thing we can do is inspire each other. We are all in this industry together, so it was great to be inspired by not only the editors but all of the ambitious young professionals in attendance,” said model and fashion blogger Stacy Ike.

Attendees were gifted product from MOST Brand and SAVOR Label Clothing. POPwater, Health-Ade Kombucha and Donut Box LA provided refreshments.

For more information about the next “What Is…?” series visit AimerAmour.com