Media Spotlights – Page 13 – Independent Entertainment Media Coalition

Media Mogul In The Making: Meet Zayna Allen

This week’s featured media mogul is none other than Zayna Allen. If Ryan Secrest had an African-American daughter it would be Allen! As the host and producer over at BoldTV, host of hit All Jersey Radio show “Tea Time w/ Zayna The Brand”, associate producer for the Social Push Club and correspondent for Black Girls in Media Inc., Zayna isn’t just a brand she’s THE BRAND! If that wasn’t enough you may also recognize Zayna from her cover of BlackGirlsRock! 2019.

You are a multi-talented individual dipping and dapping in a bunch of other expressive fields. So, what was it about journalism or media that piqued your interest?

“Ryan Seacrest was my inspiration. I remember seeing him on American Idol when I was younger and I thought he was cool but as time went on, I kept seeing him more and more on different shows and I would see his name at the end of certain shows with producer credits. I wanted to be like him. I wanted to be him. People overlook Ryan Seacrest and his success because they only give him credit for being an American Idol host. Do some research, you’d be surprised.”

How did you get your start in the media field? Did you study communications in college? Internships? Hobby writing?

“I attended the illustrious Delaware State University where I majored in TV, radio and film production. From there I interned at WBOC TV in Salisbury, Maryland in their newsroom. When I graduated college in 2016 I had about a 7-month time frame where I didn’t work in media at all but the following January I was a speaker for a Martin Luther King Day celebration in my town and the producer who was filming the event asked me to join his team as an on-air host for different events and that’s where I truly got my start.”

Tell us about your platform. What’s your mission/goals? Who’s your audience?

“Zayna The Brand is all that I am. I do not have just one title. People mostly see me as just an on-air correspondent, but there’s so much more to me. I have modeled, I am a producer, director, production manager, and radio show host. My goal for Zayna The Brand is to end up owning a production company under the name. I want to be able to create content for women of color and hire women of color. I have seen so many companies that have a target audience but have not a single individual from that demographic working for them. I want to change that, I want women of color to have a voice and to be the voice.”

So far throughout your career, what has been your proudest personal media moment?

“My proudest personal media moment so far was definitely when I was able to secure the opportunity of being a red carpet correspondent for BET’s Black Girls Rock 2019! It was an amazing experience and honestly, I am so grateful for the amount of black girl magic I was able to soak up that night.”

What advice would you give aspiring mediapreneurs looking to enter the field?

“DO NOT GIVE UP! It is hard! Especially when you are trying to do this completely on your own. I was the only person in my circle of friends and in my family wanting to pursue media so I didn’t have anybody introduce me to anyone or was able to get a job for me because they knew someone. I had to build relationships for myself and it is a very tedious and trying process but I promise it is worth it in the end! All your hard work will definitely pay off. Just keep going.”

Connect with Zayna Allen on Instagram! To view Zayna’s video reel click HERE or continue below.

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Media Mogul In The Making: Meet Amber Corrine

Amber Corrine of Backstage Chat — Amber Corrine, creator of Backstage Chat. Photo captured by Stone Walker.

This week’s featured media mogul is none other than Amber Corrine, contributor writer for HipHopDX and creator of Backstage Chat. You may also recognize Amber from Fuse TV’s Let’s Talk (Future Black History panel) special on YouTube.

You are a multi-talented individual dipping and dapping in a bunch of other expressive fields. So, what was it about journalism or media that piqued your interest?

“Connecting PEOPLE is honestly what piqued my interest. Telling stories and covering events from my point of view is always something I take pride in. I like to be that connection from audience to spotlight. Also showing other girls and boys who look like me that they can do what I am doing gives me motivation to keep going.”

How did you get your start in the media field? Did you study communications in college? Internships? Hobby writing?

“My passion for music is what ultimately got me started, but as an aspiring singer. It really started in high school where I would record everyday with my digital camera. I found a passion for editing and videography. When I got to college I became more interested in the background work like writing articles and conducting interviews. I took all kinds of courses to just sharpen my skills. I had one internship writing for an online Hip Hop magazine that quickly opened doors for so many more opportunities. It has just been gradual progress. Every year I’m doing something new and exciting. I’m getting my Masters now in Mass Communications because I have some other avenues I want to explore.”

Tell us about your platform. What’s your mission/goals? Who’s your audience?

“My platform is really my name and how I represent myself. All of my ventures tie into mu platform. The mission of my platform is to deliver uniquely produced media, inspire women and men to chase their dreams, and be as transparent as I can be about the obstacles that come with this position. It may look like a fun job but it isn’t always sunshine and rainbows.”

So far throughout your career, what has been your proudest personal media moment?

“My proudest media moment has been covering Rolling Loud NYC. Only because I did it without any other team members. I found out a week before the event that I would be covering it for HipHopDX, I booked my hotel and made magic happen with just my camera and I. I always wanted to attend Rolling Loud, and the first time I went, I worked it. I was super proud for holding it down.”

What advice would you give aspiring mediapreneurs looking to enter the field?

“I would say make sure you have an idea of what you are getting into, no matter the genre of media you pursue. Be professional and most importantly stick to your guns! Learn how to say no and mean it, and know your worth.”

Connect with Amber Corrine on Instagram and Twitter! Check out Backstage Chat on Instagram.

Media Mogul In The Making: Meet Tahir Register

TAHIRREGISTER-4(1) — Tahir Register, owner of TheBLACKMedia. Image provided by Tahir Register.

You are a multi-talented individual dipping and dapping in a bunch of other expressive fields. So, what was it about journalism or media that piqued your interest?

“After taking psychology classes in college my mind was expanded. This one class, in particular, should be mandatory from elementary school through college called; social psychology. This class was one of the most eye-opening experiences of my life. Studying our social habits, understanding experimentation, programming, and world views made me realize the importance of ownership in a whitewashed world. At the time my goal was to take what I learned and apply it to my photography, music, lyrics, screenwriting, acting, and image. I had no idea a few years later after I graduated that I’d start a media publication, but the seed was absolutely planted in 2010 when I took that summer course.

I always wanted an entertainment/production company, I had no idea the moniker would be this news publication. What piqued my interest in 2013 was, after meditating, which I do every day, I realized there was way too much negativity online about us, the Afrikan American people. Remembering social psychology, I said to myself, the only way to fix this is to create and OWN our image so we may control how we are seen by the masses. After much research and a month-long creating process, TheBLACKMedia was born!”
How did you get your start in the media field? Did you study communications in college? Internships? Hobby writing?

“I got started in media at a very young age. I have been a photographer for a long time, 15 years to be exact, but before that, I was an aspiring photographer and would shoot basketball games in elementary school and write up a blurb with the photo. I would be asked to shoot events and write about it, and in high school, I was briefly apart of the school newspaper doing the same thing. As a singer-songwriter media training and education were important to the educators around me so they made sure I got a well-rounded education in journalism, investigative journalism, various forms of writing, and once it became popular, an education on social media.

I learned advertising, promotion, marketing, business, and writing whilst in college. Even though I have the experience, none of that prepared me for what was coming, maybe writing did, but nothing else. Experience in the field is the best education, hands down!”

Tell us about your platform. What’s your mission/goals? Who’s your audience?

“TheBLACKMedia is a safe space created to redefine what it means to be a person of colour in entertainment. No rumors, No gossip, No negativity, TheBLACKMedia is a news publication serving high-quality celebrity and entertainment news in a proper way. The goal is to continuously reach millions of people to inspire them to see people of colour as well rounded, full, Human beings, with limitless potential by using entertainment to reprogram our minds from the hundreds of years of monolithic programming racist inflicted upon our race and the world. Currently, our audience is mainly consisted of Black Women, with Black Men growing slowly, but surely into our support system.”

So far throughout your career, what has been your proudest personal media moment?

“My proudest media moment was when I achieved frequent engagement in 2019. Prior years I would only get engagement when I had viral moments. Moments before that would be absolutely silent! Now when I write an article or post a social media update I know for a fact, there will be engagement, and that comfort is unmatched! Prior to that my proudest moment was years ago when I achieved monthly visitors WITHOUT having to write new articles. I called it, sustainability. I still have that! Thousands of people from all over the world folk to my website, without me having to write or do anything new because of the work I put in for so many years. Of course, I update, but if I don’t for whatever reason it’s nice to know I won’t be forgotten.”

What advice would you give aspiring mediapreneurs looking to enter the field?

“I would tell them to develop something that is NOT OUT! Even though it will be harder, money will be tight, and you may not be as popular as fast as other common websites or media platforms, in the end, originality is what wins! Do not skip business plans, business structures, and do not rush releasing or premiering anything. Take your time to develop greatness! Most importantly LEARN EVERYTHING!!! Do not rely on others, even if you have a team, which I do not, learn everything! Every aspect of your business you should know! You should never be blind, ill-informed, or lost about anything. Media is a broad-spectrum, know every aspect of it. Lights, audio, filming, marketing, promotion, advertising, logos, tag lines, scripts, writing, journalism, article writing, CSS, HTML, social media, camera lenses, and so much more! Have a working understanding of everything you are doing and you will NEVER not work, never not make money, and you’ll always be five steps ahead of people who will…I repeat…WILL TRY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOU! They tried with me, never worked! :)”

Connect with Tahir Register on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook! Check out TheBLACKMedia on its official website here or on social media (Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook).