James Allen, B.A. ’07

A New Voice

By Jim Sciancalepore, M.A.’93

James Allen works with U.S. Sen. Cory Booker.

"We see an entire generation that is up for grabs … young people who have been overlooked or underestimated by most media outlets,” explained James Allen. “They consume content through new channels: social and mobile. And they happen to be the largest generation in American history.”

Allen was describing the concept behind Mic.com, a new media outlet for which he is the vice president of Communications and Strategy. Allen and his co-workers have an ambitious goal: to be the most trusted and relevant news source for millennials.

Mic is certainly off to a good start: Its audience has grown by more than 750 percent since early 2013. It currently reaches more than 19 million monthly readers, an estimated two-thirds of them under age 35.

As “keeper of the Mic brand,” Allen oversees brand strategy and media relations – and serves as Mic’s liaison in Washington, D.C., and other industry communities.

Allen, 28, is no stranger to politics. While a sophomore at UAlbany, he served as an intern to former U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton. Allen later worked as campaign manager for U.S. Rep. John Carney’s successful congressional campaign, and he was director of Communications for Newark [N.J.] Mayor (now senator) Cory Booker.

“All of these roles gave me a deep understanding of politics and journalism,” said Allen. “For me, Mic is the best of both worlds: I get my political fix, and I’m diving into the digital-media industry at a very exciting time.”