#MediaMonday – Krista Allen
Today’s #MediaMonday comes to us from the Navajo Times, where assistant managing editor Krista Allen has been named Arizona Community Journalist of the Year by the Arizona Press Club.
This is her second big award of the year as she was also named Journalist of the Year by the Arizona Newspapers Association.
Krista was honored for her work in covering the coronavirus on the Navajo Nation. A fellow journalist who reviewed her work said: “She used old-fashioned shoe-leather reporting to bring to light a devastating church rally outbreak, vividly portrayed the desperation of those who couldn’t get medical care for their loved ones, gave families a platform to share their experiences for the benefit of the community, and ensured every story included useful actionable information.”
Krista, time to share:
I’m from Kaibeto, Ariz., in the Page-Lake Powell area.
I think journalism found me in high school, during which a history teacher said to me I’m a good writer.
So, in college, I decided to study journalism and photojournalism. After graduating with a journalism degree, I reached out to the Navajo Times and started freelancing. Eventually, the Times hired me as a full-time reporter to cover Western Navajo, which is half of the Navajo Nation; southern and Utah Navajo; and parts of northern Arizona.
I left the Times in 2018 to work at the Lake Powell Chronicle and the Gateway Magazine for News Media Corp. I was named editor-in-chief and filled in as interim publisher.
In June 2021, I applied for an editor’s position at the Times.
I’ve covered every issue/news and nearly every event in the Navajo Nation. Now it’s time for me to teach the young Navajo reporters and photographers. Being an editor allows me to do that.
I also helped establish a community newsletter for Tuba City, Ariz., the largest chapter in the Navajo Nation. I was named editor. I’m only an advisor to the Tuba City team nowadays.
When I’m not working I like to binge-watch Netflix and Amazon Prime videos, read, hike, and be out on the Colorado River.
A little-known fact about me: I’m a trained cook. I worked in a fast-paced kitchen when I was younger, before journalism. I was a salad chef.
