Vibe Names Danyel Smith Editor-In-Chief

Posted on July 16, 1997

Formerly Editor-At-Large, 1996-1997, and Music Editor at VIBE from 1994-1996, Danyel Smith has been named Editor-in-Chief of VIBE. Smith just completed a year at Northwestern University as one of twelve 1996-1997 National Arts Journalism Fellows. Prior to her position at VIBE, Smith was Rhythm-and-Blues Editor at Billboard in 1993. She has written for the New York Times, and has been a columnist at Spin magazine. Her work has also appeared in Time, the New Yorker, Rolling Stone, Us, and the Village Voice. A California native, Smith was a columnist at the San Francisco Bay Guardian from 1992-1993 and Music Editor at San Francisco Weekly from 1991-1992. Smith attended the University of California, Berkeley, and currently resides in Brooklyn, N.Y.

"Smith has clearly been a connecting force with young adults through music journalism and she has the experience and expertise to take VIBE to an even more powerful level," says Clinkscales. "We're pleased that Light is continuing with us in an editorial capacity. He will develop special book projects to expand the VIBE brand and undertake special writing assignments for both VIBE and SPIN."

Allan Light, just promoted to Editor-at-Large, has held the position of Editor-in-Chief at VIBE since 1994. He was formerly VIBE's founding Music Editor from 1993-1994. Prior to joining VIBE, Light was at Rolling Stone since 1989 where he was Senior Writer, 1994, and Assistant Editor from 1989-1993.

"Under Light's leadership, VIBE has grown tremendously and the prospect of how much further we can go with Smith at the helm is very exciting," says Jones.