Allison Bennett serves as director of corporate communications and media relations for Crown Media Family Networks, home of Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movie Channel. She is based in New York City and reports to Annie Howell, executive vice president, corporate communications and media relations.
In her role, Bennett’s oversight includes the development and execution of strategic corporate communications and media relations plans to effectively position Crown Media Networks’ business developments, distribution expansion, public affairs initiatives, ratings news, and brand messaging. Additionally, Bennett is responsible for all internal communications efforts, including the development of employee incentive and education programs. Along with Howell, Bennett is also charged with overseeing Hallmark Channel’s animal advocacy campaign, Pet Project, as well as the company’s investor relations function.
Prior to joining Crown Media Networks, Bennett served as a media relations and communications consultant — creating and implementing targeted, multi-platform public relations and positioning strategies — for a number of corporations including T-Group Entertainment, a Los Angeles-based television production company; Temin & Company, a strategic marketing, branding, and communications firm; and the cable network Oxygen.
Previously, Bennett acted as director of media relations for TV Guide Publishing Group from 2003 – 2008. In this capacity, she was responsible for all communications and publicity efforts on behalf of the company’s magazine and online content, editors, marketing initiatives, and events.
Bennett joined TV Guide from MTV where she was a senior publicist, acting as the primary press liaison for the network’s News & Documentary departments, as well as its Public Affairs/Pro-Social division. Prior to MTV, Bennett was tapped as public relations manager by historic arts and popular culture publication Interview magazine, where she built the PR department from the ground up. She began her career as a book publicist for Simon & Schuster.
Bennett graduated with honors from the University of California at Santa Barbara, where she earned a B.A. in English literature.
