Malik Singleton

My Q&A with Russell Simmons

2008-05-02T11:37:00.003-05:00

"Russell Simmons: Reality TV Good for My Kids"
The hip-hop entrepreneur talks about his spiritual quest, his new book and his daughters' reality TV show

From Tue. 4/29 to Fri. 5/2 this article got 7,741 page views and 4,470 unique visits on Time.com. And this is straight from my email inbox:

On 5/1/08 6:40 PM, "Caryn Brooks" wrote:

A belated thanks for all the hard work you put into the Russell Simmons interview. I know that there were some kinks in the proceedings (like losing your connection with him on the phone) but I appreciate that you kept with it and hounded them until you could talk again.

Caryn Brooks
Arts and Entertainment Editor
TIME Magazine online

Update '08

2008-05-02T11:33:00.001-05:00

Can't believe I hadn't updated this site since '06 but I've been occupied with a number of things. I'll begin with recent work, then get caught up with things from all the months I missed.

Just Produced: Time.com Person of the Year

2006-12-17T12:10:00.000-05:00

WHEW!! I'm finally able to come up for air for a minute because it has been a crazy busy few weeks leading up to this... Working with the team at Time.com I just helped produce another big content package, the magazine's signature package of each year. Check out the online component of TIME Magazine's Person of the Year issue. This time, that person is YOU! You, the people who made the world a smaller place by building up interactive online media, putting everything from silly narcism to politically shifting whistleblowing in the hands of millions. It's excitng to hear people's reactions already. Pick the mag up from newsstands and read the cover story now. Also read the coverage on Time.com's sister site CNN.com.
• Time.com: Person of the Year 2006
• CNN.com: You are 'Person of the Year'

Just Produced: Time.com Population Package

2006-10-24T21:30:00.000-05:00

Up at Time.com I just helped produce the online version of this week's cover story.

TIME.com: The United Stats of America
As the U.S. population tops 300 million, America is purple in its politics and complicated in its beliefs. TIME takes a close look at America at the beginning of its fourth century. America by the Numbers: An illustrated guide to the nation's essential truths
• Cover Story
• Who We Are
• Where We Live
• What We Believe
• Denomination Nation

She's Alive

2006-10-18T00:52:00.000-05:00

Sunday night, just before midnight, I soft-launched Nation Times! The first person I told was my cousin and now two days later I'm telling everybody. I had to spend a couple of days monitoring it and evaluating it, but hey, it's out there now, my latest (and so far greatest) contribution to the world. I still have improvements to make but that'll always be the case. I was done waiting for it to be real, done keeping it to myself. Please just go check it out for yourself and then be kind and give me feedback, I'll really appreciate it.

Did somebody hear me?

2006-10-17T22:14:00.000-05:00

I ranted on my LinkedIn page about the importance of my line of work — how much I think web producers are over worked and under appreciated (who isn't?) — then what do you know, I find what looks like the beginnings of a professional organization for us, like our own web producer's guild. I'm actually pretty happy about this, it's almost like someone heard me and made something happen. So I'm going to live up to my big talk and make something happen with this group. I may actually meet some folks who know what in the world I'm talking about when I talk about work.

45 years ago

2006-10-04T02:20:00.000-05:00

I touted this elsewhere but I should also tout this here. Back in July the New York Times Magazine ran this story which features my folks, Robert & Helen Singleton. I saved all of its electronic assets right away for my own keeping but for a second I thought that I'd misplaced the original NYT URL. But I found it just as fast so here it is again for safe keeping (it may resize your browser window, it may also require login): Freedom Long Riders

What's happening

2006-09-27T01:37:00.000-05:00

I just started a new gig — I'm doing interactive production with the web team at Time Magazine. But I'm still as focused as ever on launching a pretty big personal project. I'm working with Watersquare to complete the first version of our own experimental online news service called Nation Times. I'll have more to say about both time.com and nationtimes.net as soon as both of them really get rolling, so check back with me soon.

Fam update: My folks are teaching abroad in London while my oldest brother (Robert Singleton Jr.) rebooted his academic career by deciding to finish his grad work in mathematics at LMU in L.A. That's a big deal.

My other brother (Damani Singleton) is doing his thing too. I'll be excited to rebuild an online destination for him that will detail his endeavors as a stage performer. He is an actor and he's in his true element when he's doing dramatic theater. I just travelled to the Midwest to see him carry the leading role in a production of an August Wilson play. This is his second time being the lead in a Wilson play. This run is Seven Guitars, a previous production was The Piano Lesson. August Wilson plays are heavy and Damani Singleton's performances can move emotional mountains. I'm not saying that just because he's my brother, I'm judging mostly by what I observe happening with the audience members in both humorous and tragic moments. I also listen to people afterwards as they discuss what they've seen and I'm impressed with what I overhear and proud that I'm his younger bro (because I taught him everything he knows). ;-)

Read more about August Wilson here. Read some of Damani Singleton's recent press coverage below:
• Review of August Wilson's Seven Guitars
Journal & Courier newspaper (Lafayette, IN)
• Review of Cheryl L. Davis's The Color of Justice
Nuvo newspaper (Indianapolis, IN)
• Review of August Wilson's The Piano Lesson
The Daily Cardinal newspaper (Madison, WI)

Just added: Multimedia

2006-08-03T13:40:00.000-05:00

Whenever I produce a slideshow or a short video I will post it in this new section called Multimedia. The first entry is a slideshow called "Caught Sleeping." These are a few candid shots from NYC's subways where folks are known to catch zzzs whether they realize they're doing so or not. Not all photojournalism comes from warzones, hope you find these funny.

Just added: Photo work

2006-06-29T10:43:00.000-05:00

Watersquare has been busy developing some new sites which I will provide updates about soon, but in the meantime please view the new additions to this site in the Photojournalism and Photo Shoot sections.

I've updated my profile on LinkedIn

2005-10-21T16:11:00.000-05:00

LinkedIn.com is like Friendster for professionals. It's a networking method that lets you connect with your people and then to your people's people. I'm doing some new things nowadays so I needed to give my profile a fresh updating. View my LinkedIn profile here ↑. Setup or update your own (yes it's free), then let's be sure to connect.

Introducing The WaterSquare Widget

2005-10-03T11:49:00.000-05:00

NEW YORK — Watersquare Studio adds web application development to its suite of creative services by releasing its first widget! Intended for clients, prospectives, and the creative community at large, the Watersquare widget is a mini-portal of news and essential info leading to Watersquare's presence online. Widgets are becoming so essential to the personal computing experience that Microsoft is sure to develop its own platform for widgets with the next release of its Windows operating system. Mac users with the new "Tiger" operating system (Mac OS X 10.4) can download the WS Widget now! ↑ Read the full release ↑.

WS Recognized by Industry Monitors

2005-09-26T14:14:00.000-05:00

NEW YORK — Watersquare Studio gets recognized by the web design industry's trusted knowledge-sharing networks. Newstoday.com, DesignTaxi.com, and MoLuv.com each featured Watersquare.com following the studio's relaunch of its online portfolio (see MoLuv for 9/19; Newstoday and DesignTaxi for 9/26). Read full release ↑

WS Launches Mini Site For "Lust"

2005-09-19T09:16:00.000-05:00

NEW YORK — Watersquare Studio launches multimedia mini-site for Rebel Soul Records to promote release of new single from singer Martin Luther. Targeted at radio programmers and industry insiders, the mini-site features the track "Lust" (introduced by Martin himself). The experience also includes the tracks "Rise" and "NYCG" from Martin's 'neo-funk rock & soul' sophomore album Rebel Soul Music.
In August, Watersquare integrated a host of features to RebelSoulMusic.com on both the front-end and back-end which permitted increased and valued interactivity for the site's visitors and its managers. View mini-site ↑

WS Launches Fall Portfolio

2005-09-17T19:55:00.000-05:00

NEW YORK — Watersquare Studio launched a brand new version of its online portfolio today, a newly structured, newly designed presentation of 22 of its most recent and most representative projects.
The Fall 2005 work showcases Summer projects from new clients including j. Records, Sony Music, adidas, and Iman Cosmetics. The sleek interface and sharp colors help make the panoramic viewing stage easy to use. Visit watersquare.com ↑

WS Launches Campaign for Iman Cosmetics

2005-09-15T18:22:00.000-05:00

NEW YORK — Watersquare Studio capped off New York's event and promotion-filled Fashion Week by rolling out a marketing campaign for its top fashion & beauty client, Iman Cosmetics. With the announcement of the release of a new book and accompanying historic photo tribute in Harlem, Watersquare and Iman Cosmetics reached over 3000 trendsetting women subscribers from different countries.
In July, Wateresquare redesigned and relaunched ImanCosmetics.com, company site of the leading creaters of beauty and skincare collections for all women of color.

Destiny's Child Adds Final Dates to Site

2005-08-02T11:25:00.000-05:00

With the announcement by the hit ladies trio that they will be going their separate ways following their summer tour, their popular fan site now showcases some of the last of the videos, singles, and news. With DestinysChild.com, the group's sophisticated online destination, Watersquare Studio pushed the bar on music fan sites, seamlessly integrating motion displays, full-length videos, music access, and an online store. Read full release; Visit DestinysChild.com