Angela Gilltrap Opens Up to Me About Magazines, Mentors and the Future of Media

When one thinks of magazine editors and their job within the media, images of hectic schedules, deadlines, and chaotic travel regimens come to mind. While these images are very true and real scenarios within the role of a magazine editor today, one would multiply that schedule by about ten, and in doing so would arrive at somewhat of an image of the workload of Zink Magazine’s contributing editor, Angela Gilltrap. Ms. Gilltrap has been in the limelight in some way, shape or form even since childhood when she took a junior role at a news station in her native Australia, and since then has managed to work her way into almost every facet of the entertainment industry. At twelve, Ms. Gilltrap was a guest at the Lido in Paris, refined her Japanese in Tokyo at fifteen, and by sixteen was juggling school commitments and working to make a living as a jazz singer, appearing in her first musical as well as dancing up to fifteen hours a week. Since then Ms. Gilltrap has gone on to gain recognition as a television presenter, author, social commentator and performer, excelling at each independently. Even with all of this under her belt, Ms. Gilltrap still seems to take the industry on with a passion and drive that shows and has worked in her favor for years, no doubt a trend that will continue in the future.

When one talks to Ms. Gilltrap, the first thing that you pick up on is her drive, experience, and knowledge of the industry, experience that encompasses a wide range of areas. As was stated before, Ms. Gilltrap started early on in the media and branched out in various directions along the way, working her way through news channels, books, music, theatre, dance, and ultimately the magazine industry, a jump that she states was an easy transition due to her background experience and knowledge of the industry up until then. “I was on tour, so I had my finances under control but had an inch to know more. So I started freelancing,” says Gilltrap, a move that seemed to work well. “ I figured the best way to talk to those I admired was to interview them. I chose those people, pitched the stories to various editors, and ended up with assignments. Having come from an entertainment background, you get used to trying again and again until something finally gives.”

Another area that stands out about Gilltrap is the way that she has cleverly and smartly positioned her endeavors to succeed using business savvy and ingenuity. Talking to her about the way that she works, she seems to always be thinking of the big picture and what more can be done to help the project, story or item work rather than trying to limit herself to expected or limited ways of doing so. Even within the fickle and changing industry of publishing, Ms Gilltrap has a positive and creative outlook when asked about her thoughts on where magazines and print is headed in the near and changing future. “Print is not dead no matter what people say” she states, “I think all publishers, media and marketers have to think outside the box to give brands value for money when it comes to funding publications. Whether online, in print or on the web, the ability to create something has never been easier, being able to sustain that momentum however, is where the difficulty lies.”, further adds Gilltrap, showing her positive outlook on an industry that is in a state of flux, yet as she states has a tremendous opportunity for creation and industry when handled smartly.

These days, as in her younger years, Gilltrap still has a hectic global travel schedule and busy lifestyle, yet still manages to find time to write great columns for Zink magazine, crediting one of her fellow colleagues, Casey Gillespie, as one of her mentors and people that she continues to look up to in the industry. “In terms of publishing I think it's the people you work with in very stressful situations that really influence the way you work, so for me it's Editor-In-Chief Casey Gillespie of Zink Magazine. She taught me to make decisive decisions, put the quotation marks in the right place, and keep on truckin even when the going gets tough”, a sentiment that seems to be working incredibly well for her so far, and will no doubt continue to do so in the years to follow, wherever her busy life and thriving career decide to take her.--Stephen Fisher--

Be sure to check out Angela's book, "Sunshine on Sugar Hill"(ABC/Harper Collins) available online.