Questionnaire for Media: Chris Allen, Fast Company and Inc.
ERPR’s series, “Questionnaire for Media,” features members of the media and asks about their lives and careers.
Chris Allen, Director of Editorial Video at Fast Company
I connected with Chris Allen, Director of Editorial Video at Fast Company & Inc. Magazines.
How did you first get into journalism/media? What was your first job in the media?
I finished a degree in Media Production at university in the UK and was lucky enough in my final year to meet former successful alumni. Through a contact I managed to secure my first full time PA (production assistant) job in London on the UK's number one morning show. Just goes to show that networking and putting yourself out there really can be the step you need to get on the career ladder.
How do you decide what you write or publish?
Working in video we have several priorities: creating great, entertaining and informative content, supporting bigger packages for the brand and developing series for editorial sponsorship. It means that each year we develop and produce new series while also supporting broader initiatives within the company. In terms of story, we always look for something that has that 'wow' factor, something innovative or extraordinary that people will be surprised by.
What is the most interesting news story you’re following right now that you’re not covering?
We've never really been a 'news' team since we often focus on future developments but we do try and be as timely as possible and jump on things when they're trending. I'm currently working on a series called The Work in Progress that focuses on the various ways companies and organizations are tackling DE&I. So I spend a lot of time looking into who's doing things well that our audience can learn from and who might still need to do a lot of internal work before they can set an example.
If you weren’t in journalism/media, what would you be doing?
I honestly don't know. I always joke that I'm not sure how transferable my skills are since my only real talents are interviewing and writing. Since I work in video, I suppose if I weren't to I would probably try and be a writer. I do enjoy writing screenplays on the side also.
What do you read or watch every morning?
I listen to a podcast every morning, and they're all very mixed. From more serious education pods like the TED Radio Hour to Las Culturistas with SNL's Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers, which take a very queer look at pop culture in a way that's both funny and insightful.
Who is your hero of fiction?
I actually love the Freeform series The Bold Type, about life at a female-aimed magazine. I used to work at Hearst and so can relate to that environment. Melora Hardin plays EIC Jacqueline Carlyle and I really admire and respect her approach as a boss. She's can be tough sometimes, but its's always to get the very best out of people, and usually she's incredibly supportive to her staff and is the kind of boss I think we should all aspire to be. The fact that the series was created/exec produced by Joanna Coles, former EIC of Cosmo, whom I've worked with and admire in real life is the icing on the cake.
Which talent would you most like to have?
I would love to have a more cinematic way of thinking. I think I have a good eye for telling a visual story but sometimes my imagination can be a tad limited. Would love to be able to think outside the box more in that way as that's where I think real innovation in storytelling happens. Luckily I have members of our team who think that way. Always hire people that have talents where you have blind spots!