Interview: Lauren Orsini

Lauren Rae Orsini (by John Bowers)

When Scooter first recommended I ask Lauren Orsini for an interview, I thought “Oh yeah, Otaku Journalist is that awesome site that wrote about DC Geeks back when we were just getting started. She seems cool!” Not wanting to seem like a newb, I took to Google to try and research a bit more about her:

• She was an intern for Kotaku.
• Last summer, she had her work featured in Forbes.
• She’s a staff writer for The Daily Dot.
• and much, much more...

After I got over being thoroughly intimidated impressed. I sent her a slew of questions, which she was kind enough to answer.


Aine: I'm going to assume that the DC Geeks readers know what an "otaku" is (and if they don't, they know how to find it). Do you think that otaku are geeks or nerds or something else entirely?

My immediate thought when I hear
the word "otaku." (via Michael Mol)

Lauren: To me, “otaku” is a word that describes a passionate hobbyist, where the hobby in question can be anything from video games to trains. I choose this word over “geek” when describing what I do because I feel that “geek” connotes a specific set of hobbies involving science fiction and technology, while “otaku” is more open ended.

I discussed the definition of “otaku” as compared to “geek” in an article last year: Who is an otaku?

Aine: Another quick terminology question: weeaboo. Are we taking it back? Or do we need to wait a bit before it loses its racist connotations?
Lauren: I was taken aback by your word “racist,” but it’s true. When I reviewed the etymology of the word, I remembered that “weeaboo” was the Perry Bible Fellowship nonsense word that 4chan used as a replacement for any instance of the word “wapanese.”

However, I don’t believe weeaboos are intentionally racist. I recently wrote about Saturday Night Live’s sketch about weeaboos (and a lively discussion is still going on in the comments), and I particularly liked what the professor said about the overenthusiastic students:

Kotatsu are awesome: comfy and warm.
(via Sakura Chihaya)

"If there's such a thing as a loving version of racism, I think you've found it."

I’ve used the word “weeaboo” to describe myself a few times: when I cooked Japanese food, when I bought a kotatsu, and when I wore a kimono to celebrate my 24th birthday at a sushi restaurant. I’ve even written an apologetic letter to Asian people about my embarrassment over being so enthusiastic about a culture that is not my own, nor do I have any idea about. (I have never even been to Japan.)

I realize that my interest in Japanese culture could be misconstrued as racism, and so I feel guilty about it. But I think my enthusiasm, as is the case with all weeaboos, comes from a very well intentioned place.

Aine: I was actually more worried at offending people who were being called weeaboos. When I was first introduced to the term, it was compared to this slur so I’ve always been hesitant to use it. “The more you know...”
What advice would you have for geeks looking to try their first anime convention?

Otakon: high density fandom. (via Scott Rubin)

Lauren: To ensure a good time, start planning early. If you’re looking to attend a large convention like Otakon (which was my first convention), I recommend booking your hotel room a year in advance.

Decide before you get there what your budget is going to be. Otherwise, you’ll be surprised at how quickly that money disappears.

Try to attend with a group of friends. While it’s almost a given that you’ll make friends at the convention, you’ll feel less nervous when you find yourself suddenly surrounded by new sights, new sounds, and thousands of new people.

Aine: To quickly date myself, I was lured into anime fandom by Trigun and Cowboy Bebop. Are there any must-see anime series that you recommend for newbs (What is the current "gateway" anime)?

Lauren: I’d recommend Soul Eater as an excellent gateway anime. It’s got something for everyone: action, adventure, a strong fantasy setting, and meaningful character development. If they made Trigun or Cowboy Bebop a decade later, it’d certainly look something like this.

Personally, my gateway anime was The Slayers. It was the first anime I ever watched. I suppose I’m dating myself as well!

Hell yeah, bronies!
(via Mooshuu)

Aine: We all know that just because it's animated doesn't mean that it's for children, but are there any series that you would recommend for kids? (And do you still run into a lot of non-otaku who have that misconception?)

Lauren: Although My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic has gained a large adult following thanks to its engaging storyline and multi-dimensional characters, I would like to make the unpopular suggestion that, in some cases, it can be enjoyed by children as well.

I’m kidding of course (though my love for MLP is no joke). Lately, I haven’t watched any other show that I would recommend to young kids. And at this point, I can’t recall running into anybody with that mindset; even my co-workers at my buttoned up old office job were Miyazaki fans.

Aine: Lauren, you deserve a brohoof ^-^/)(\^-^

In your manifesto on Otaku Journalist, you assign yourself the beat of "fandom," have you ever felt pigeonholed by your chosen beat? What reactions do you get from other journalists? And what reactions do you get from fellow otaku when they learn you're reporting about them?

Lauren: Back in 2010, I changed the title of my blog from the generic “Lauren Rae Orsini” to “Otaku Journalist.” A lot of people who cared about me urged me not to do it. They said I’d be pigeonholing myself into a specific type of writing that I might eventually want to expand out of.

Warning: Pun incoming!
In fandom, you meet colorful
characters. (via greyloch)

So far, however, it’s worked out great. I’ve defined a niche, which makes it easier for potential employers to readily comprehend what my writing is all about. It encompasses all of my current interests. Plus, I don’t just write for my blog; I work for the Daily Dot, too. So even if I did get sick of writing about fans and fan culture (though I doubt that will ever happen), I can still go to my day job and write about virtually anything on the Internet.

Aine: What is the biggest challenge you've faced as a fandom journalist (or as an online journalist)?
Lauren: Since I’m both a fan and a fandom journalist, my biggest challenge is making sure that my passion for my topic is helping, not hurting my ability to report the truth.

I’m not saying that I’m aiming for stoic objectivity; I’m not a robot. As I write in the Otaku Journalist Manifesto, I believe in authentic reporting, using my experience in my topic as an edge to most accurately present the facts. But I am always making a conscious effort to check myself and make sure I’m not letting my opinions get in the way of my duty to my audience.

Aine: In your Forbes article, you highlighted the difference between traditional journalism and your own process, but you do have formal journalism training. In what ways have you benefited from your journalism degree? In what ways are journalism classes still helpful and relevant with the increase in online and citizen journalism? 

I'm sure these are serious journalists
with serious cameras reporting on
serious things. (via Todd Huffman)

Lauren: Journalism classes teach you how to write like a journalist. News articles have a very specific format with myriad grammar and style rules. Just because you’re an excellent fiction writer doesn’t mean you’ll automatically be able to write like a trained journalist.

I took journalism classes in college, but I then got my M.A. in journalism. I don’t think everyone needs to get a master’s degree in the field, but here’s why it was helpful for me: I didn’t learn a lot of tech skills in college, and in graduate school we hardly did anything but. I learned to edit video, design infographics and use Drupal. Since I went to school in DC, I also gained a lot of connections in the field. I even got a job teaching journalism majors there after I graduated.

Was grad school that useful for improving my article writing? Not really. But it gave me essential skills and connections. Aspiring journalists who are already exceedingly techy or social butterflies might not find it as helpful as I did.

This is my new wallpaper.
(via Tony Delgrosso)

Aine: Are there any books/classes/resources that you recommend to people who want to start reporting?

Lauren: My number one suggestion to aspiring reporters is: start reporting already! You can start a blog in ten minutes, start pitching yourself ideas and send yourself out into the field. As I wrote in my Forbes article, I didn’t wait for anybody to hire me in order to become a reporter. I decided I was a reporter, and I treated myself like one.

When I started Otaku Journalist, the job I wanted— reporting on fan culture and online fandom— did not exist yet. Writing in my blog regularly meant that I would have the perfect portfolio to present for when that job opened up.

The resources I’d recommend are WordPress, Bluehost and your own stamina.

Aine: Your new years resolution for 2011 was to enjoy an extra-weeaboo year. How do you think you did? What are five fandom-related events in this area that otaku absolutely must not miss? (Or four - I'm assuming AnimeUSA is the first.)
Lauren: Absolutely right! Anime USA is a fantastic event, and everyone should go. I’m only a little biased. We’re moving to the Marriot Wardman this year in DC proper, so we’ll be more Metro accessible. We’ll also have triple the space we had last year!

Renfaire is otaku-friendly, I promise!
(via Larry Wilder)

I’d recommend every otaku visit the Maryland Renaissance Faire at least once. Perhaps even during pirate weekend. Generally everyone there is a nerd like you, plus there are plenty of opportunities to eat all sorts of types of food on a stick.

DC Sakura Matsuri is coming up, and the festival has plenty of activities for otaku. For example, Anime USA puts on a cosplay fashion show there every year. Last year, they had a Nintendo 3DS testing booth. There’s also Japanese food and cultural activities, of course.

Every month, the Japanese Embassy has an event called Animazing, where they screen an anime so recent you might have not had a chance to see it yet anywhere else. People from the DC Anime Club usually show up, so you’re bound to make some new friends, too.

Can my fifth suggestion be our five other local conventions? There’s Magfest, T-MODE, Katsucon, Otakon and Tigercon, and I can’t pick just one.

Lauren Orsini: Lucky or Cunning?
Hmm... (via Charles Williams)

Aine: Finally, a little bird told me you were a pretty wicked Magic player. What non-otaku geek activities do you enjoy?

Lauren: I don’t know who told you I was good at Magic. I’m just a ridiculously lucky drafter and I open up a lot of rare cards. If you were at the Star City Open, you’d see I’m not just being humble!

One thing I enjoy that’s not generally considered “geeky” is knitting. I knit a lot of socks, but I’ve been known to knit a Half-Life scarf for my fiance. I also collect rocks. Actually, I think these things are even dorkier than the interests that I talk about all the time!

Aine: Lauren, thanks so much for taking the time to answer my huge list of questions!
If you still haven’t checked it out, Lauren’s blog is Otaku Journalist. It’s definitely one to add to your RSS feed. Besides being a knowledgeable otaku, she writes helpful posts for bloggers and online journalists. She’s also got the social media triad covered with Facebook, Tumblr, and Twitter.