We were lucky to catch up with Gina Catalano recently and have shared our conversation below.

Gina, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you tell us the backstory behind how you came up with the idea?

Prior to starting Black is the New AP Style, I worked for a few other online publications that provided once-in-a-lifetime experiences. While I valued my time there, their demographics didn’t always align with my interests or writing style. I was more interested in the storytelling aspect of journalism; I also wanted to be 100% honest in that the stories I were telling were ones I was actually interested in. I reached out to a handful of public relations professionals that I had worked with previously and asked if they would consider working with me as I branched out to try my own thing. When they all said yes, I knew it was time to be my own boss. Thanks to a wonderful friend from college, Stephanie, a name was chosen, and everything seemed to fall into place.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Hi! My name is Gina, and I am a journalist that specializes in the entertainment industry. I majored in journalism with a minor in communications, where I learned my love for talking and writing would be a useful combination. I have had the opportunity to work in the music industry for more than a decade, starting as a news writer and working my way up to senior editor. In late 2016 I launched Black is the New AP Style, an entertainment publication that specializes in feature-style interviews with established and up-and-coming artists in music, film, television, literature, and pop culture. Storytelling is incredibly important to me, and I want the artist to not only feel comfortable during our conversation but walk away from it knowing that their story is important and will be told to the best of my ability.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I had absolutely no idea what I was doing when I walked into my first meeting as a writer for my college newspaper. Every time an editor called out an available story, I felt no connection or interest. Just as I was deciding I had chosen the wrong major, the arts editor declared that they wanted a write-up about rock band Switchfoot, who would be performing at the school later that month. I made my way over to the journalism professor after being assigned the article and asked what was expected of this piece. Would I be interviewing the band? The professor laughed, letting me know that was impossible and to essentially rewrite their biography in 800 words. I could not imagine anyone being interested in reading that, so I decided I would find a way to interview them. A few Google searches, one email, and a week later, I was on the phone with Drew Shirley of Switchfoot. Nothing was more satisfying than handing in that article to a dumbfounded professor.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Telling an artist’s story to the world is so fulfilling. Hearing them describe their creative projects, from the most rewarding aspects to the most challenging, allows me to show the reader something beyond what they see/hear/feel. I want the artist to feel as though they are having a conversation with a friend and trusting that friend to tell their story the way it’s intended. It is incredibly humbling to be told that they enjoyed the conversation and that the questions they were asked were everything they hoped for.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.blackisthenewapstyle.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackisthenewapstyle
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blackisthenewapstyle