Students take talents to online magazine

Molly Street (left) and Aubry Fritsch (right) both work for the online magazine the Lala. The magazine targets college-aged women. (Noura Elmanssy/TommieMedia)
Molly Street (left) and Aubry Fritsch (right) both work for the online magazine the Lala. The magazine targets college-age women. (Noura Elmanssy/TommieMedia) 

St. Thomas communications and journalism majors Aubry Fritsch and Molly Street are taking their learning outside the classroom. The two juniors recently started working for the nationally recognized online magazine the Lala.

Both Fritsch and Street began working for the magazine – which targets college-age women – in the spring of 2015. Street works an editorial contributor and Fritsch as a marketing and public relations representative.

Street learned about the opportunity via social media and suggested that Fritsch apply.

The two are equally enthusiastic about their positions with the magazine, although their different roles allow them to have unique insight on the publication. Street thinks the Lala distinguishes itself by focusing on unique topics.

“We really try to promote articles and ideas that (are) not just something that you see on every college website,” Street said. “A lot of things on the Lala website are promoting feminism and girl power, girl bosses – that kind of thing.”

Street said she produces an article for the magazine every two weeks and has editorial freedom. Her favorite article she has written thus far is, “Ultimate Social Experiment: How Many Dates Does It Take To Fall In Love?”

Fritsch is in charge of promoting the site through social media and on-campus events. The Lala is based in New York City and all communication is done online, forcing Fritsch to be self-motivated.

“We all kind of communicate through that (Facebook page), which is a lot different than calling someone or seeing someone face to face every day,” Fritsch said. “You do have to be on top of it, you have to respond to the emails when you get them.”

Street and Fritsch feel they are learning skills that will help them in their careers and allow them to establish personal values. Street feels her experience working for the Lala has reaffirmed that being different will “Take you farther in life.”

“There’s a college girl stereotype, and then there’s a St. Thomas girl stereotype,” Street said. “I don’t fit into the stereotype here, but I don’t really want to either. I think that’s the biggest thing that I’ve learned, is that being different (is) a positive thing.”

Fritsch also believes working with the Lala has helped her learn about stereotypes.

“You have (articles) about like mental health and other stereotypes that are being broken – serious issues that don’t get spoken about very often,” she said.

Fritsch and Street enjoy their positions at the Lala and love seeing their team grow. They believe in the publication’s mission and appreciate the opportunity.

“There is something really unique about working with so many other college women,” Fritsch said. “There is so much to learn from each one of them.”

Noura Elmanssy can be reached at elma7206@stthomas.edu.