We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Fallon Brannon. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Fallon below.

Fallon, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

The most meaningful project that I’ve worked on is the “LinkedIn Catfish” article with Teen Vogue. It’s considered my first piece in a large publication. I was in a professional rut as I tried to navigate this complex job market while living in Los Angeles. I didn’t necessarily have a full-time job; I was temping, so I was in the market for something full-time. I chose to abandon writing as a creative outlet because I began to see the art as a chore; I felt that I was writing about the same frustrations that reflected my reality, and the craft just wasn’t fun for me anymore. But in my traditional chronically-online fashion, I was scrolling down my TikTok “For You” page one night, and a mutual of mine reposted a video of a young Black woman, Aliyah Jones, struggling with similar issues that I was facing. She was unemployed, and she documented this social experiment where she posed as a white woman to see if she would gather more responses from recruiters and secure interviews. I was already privy to the expectations of the outcome, but I was still shocked to witness the drastic results, considering that Aliyah and the AI-generated catish had the same resume and skill sets. Then, I remember thinking to myself, “I need to write this story.” I felt that more people needed to be aware of Aliyah’s social experiment and the issues she faced while recording the process. This was nothing new for Black women; we have to work twice as hard just to get half of what’s offered. I had wanted to work for Teen Vogue for months because I’m an avid fan and reader of their content. I attended the 2024 Summit and left the convention feeling inspired and even more inclined to shoot my shot. So, I pitched it to the Culture Editor, and she forwarded it to the Features Director. The rest was history. I was able to reach out to Aliyah, and we chatted for hours. I made it a priority to tell her story in the best way that I could. After Aliyah shared the Teen Vogue story across her social media, I saw a wide range of supporters championing the necessity of the narrative. Everyone felt seen, and that was 100% my intention.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m a culture writer, journalist, and media professional. (I’ve worked in so many sectors of media beyond journalism.) I also have experience in PR and digital marketing. As a person in media, I think learning different avenues and building your skillsets in multiple mediums can only enhance your career journey. My bylines include Teen Vogue, Refinery 29, Essence Girls United, and Culture Creators, where I cover internet culture, pop culture, politics, and beauty. I first got into journalism while I was the Digital Editorial Page at E! News in October 2023. I worked at E! for four months, and I had the privilege to work alongside E! Correspondent Francesca Amiker, who spoke life into me during my whole time there, especially as a young Black woman storyteller. I became inspired by Francesca’s enthusiasm and how confidently she carried herself in every room she stepped foot in. I did my first red carpet interview as a Social Producer for E!, but Francesca encouraged me to ask the talent questions as a journalist would. So, I did, and I started to feel my confidence shift. My English professors at Tuskegee Univeristy (May 2023 alumna) also encouraged me to pursue journalism since they knew I enjoyed the medium.

As a journalist, I always write about the stories that speak to me. Then, I hope the stories can speak to someone else. I’m a lover of culture analysis pieces and a champion of marginalized voices. I want to use my creative gifts to inspire others. Many of my written works simply start as a conversation with those closest to me. I want to know what my friends and family are reading and what intrigues them about those stories. I love asking questions, and I love to learn. I’ll forever be a student of life.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The freedom of self-expression.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I will always be a student of life.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/falliexo/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fallon-brannon-147943194/
• Other: Muck Rack: https://muckrack.com/fallon-brannon?
  Threads: @falliexo

Image Credits

The Jennifer Hudson Show (for the JHud image)