Dear Distraction Community,

One week ago, a group of Distraction staff members and I were in New York City for a student media conference. Today, we are quarantined in our dorms, apartments or homes, some nearby and some far from our beloved University of Miami. It is shocking, to say the least. And despite the memes and Tik Toks trying their hardest to make light of COVID-19, this virus will  forever change our lives. It has already cancelled our semester and the production of our last magazine of the year.

I wish I could say this was a difficult decision to make, but social distancing makes it impossible for my staff to create the 96-page summer print issue we had already been planning. Photographers cannot leave their homes to capture shots for our spreads. Writers are unable to conduct in-person interviews or do any sort of reporting — the type of thorough, investigative reporting we pride our magazine on. And without the photos and copy, designers, who could have otherwise designed from home, will have nothing to work with. 

Distraction Magazine is fueled by collaboration. If you’ve ever attended a meeting or stopped by on deadline, you would understand. Designers are constantly contorting our Mac Desktops to show myself or other editors their progress, writers are marking up the suite’s whiteboards with headline ideas for each story and there is never a shortage of staff members chatting and eating snacks on our tiny loveseat. Now it is against the rules to gather together with that many people. Evidently, we took these weeks of stress, laughter and hard work for granted. 

And though my staff and I are disappointed not to be able to bring you a fourth issue this year, we are now dedicated to our online platform, distractionmagazine.com. Throughout these uncertain times, we will be posting not only updates on COVID-19 and how to stay sane in the coming weeks, but dozens of other “distractions” for you all to enjoy. That is the very mission of our publication — to distract you, if only for a little while, from the trials of daily life. And what better time for us to do our job than now, in the midst of a global pandemic? 

Of course, I urge you to pay attention to the news, abide by CDC guidelines, wash your hands, stay inside, social distance, etc., etc., but I hope that our media outlet will provide you with some stimulation, information and, perhaps, even a little joy? Finally, I’d like to thank you, readers, for your continuous support in my staff’s creative and journalistic endeavors. Together, we will get through this!

All my best,
Isabella Vaccaro
Editor-In-Chief, Distraction Magazine