Mi Estilo webzine celebrates local Latinos

A year ago, Jose Rodriguez and three partners started Mi Estilo, an online magazine dedicated to covering the lives and issues of Metro Detroit’s Latino population. One year later, the weekly webzine continues to go strong, gain readers and expand its staff.

“It’s unbelieveable and overwhelming that we’re still around after a year,” says Jose Rodriguez, editor in chief of Mi Estilo.

The name is Spanish for My Style, which is meant to reflect the diversity of interests and talents in this segment of the population. It covers everything from Detroit’s famous Mexicantown neighborhood to its cultural impact to how it’s spreading its root into suburban Detroit.

The publication, which is based out of the Royal Oak/Troy area, keeps the four partners busy and has a staff of four regular writers who are a combination of independent contractors and interns. The website garners about 1,000 hits per month and growing. It hopes to double that readership in its second year.

“It’s about half and half returning readers versus new readers,” Rodriguez says. “We’re really well known at this point. We’re recognized now for our good brand.”

Mi Estilo is smartphone compatible and is reaching out through social media marketing efforts, such as Facebook and Twitter. It’s also diversifying its media offerings to include both audio and the written word. It’s also looking at branching out into video reporting.

“We have lots of ideas of what we would like to do,” Rodriquez says. “It’s just a matter of when.”

Source: Jose Rodriguez, editor in chief of Mi Estilo
Writer: Jon Zemke