Desert Publications Inc. announces the arrival of Kent Black as editor-in-chief of Palm Springs Life magazine, where he will oversee content and design of the monthly publication and its branded supplemental magazines. His first issue will be July 2015.
Black, a seasoned consumer magazine editor, has most recently lead Outside’s Go magazine and website as editor-in-chief. Prior to that, he held such positions as style editor of the Los Angeles Times Magazine/West, deputy editor of the Style section of The New York Times Magazine, and a contributing editor to Men’s Journal and Details.
In addition, Black has been a freelance contributor to a variety of national consumer magazines including Rolling Stone, Smithsonian, Afar, GQ, Sports Illustrated, Playboy, Harper’s Bazaar, Bloomberg Businessweek, and Saveur among others.
He graduated from UC Berkeley.
Black moves here with his wife, Emily Rapp, and daughter, Charlotte. Emily is an author and teacher and is on the faculty of UC Riverside’s low residency program in Palm Desert. Her 2013 memoir, The Still Point of the Turning World, was a New York Times bestseller.
“Kent brings a wealth of luxury consumer lifestyle magazine experience to the magazine as well as a passion for the architecture, style, and culture of Greater Palm Springs,” says Publisher Frank Jones. “We are excited about the changes Kent will bring to the Palm Springs Life brand.”
Black can be reached at [email protected] and 760-325-2333, ext. 233.
The publication’s former editor-in-chief, Julie Sinclair, will now turn her focus on the custom publishing division of the company, including Pebble Beach: The Magazine; Newport Beach Visitor’s Guide; GuestLife Monterey Bay, New Mexico, and El Paso; and the development of additional lifestyle publications for clients in the Coachella Valley.
Desert Publications Inc. — an innovative leader in city and regional print, web, and multimedia publishing — has been based in downtown Palm Springs for more than 55 years. In addition to Palm Springs Life and its custom publications, the company produces two annual events: Fashion Week El Paseo and Palm Desert Food+Wine Festival.