Billboard Names Samuels R&b Editor

Anita Samuels has been named R&B music editor of Billboard magazine. Samuels, whose stint begins Jan. 19, 1988, will be based in the Los Angeles office.
Samuels comes to Billboard after a year as assistant editor at BET Weekend Magazine in Washington, D.C. Previously, she spent eight years at The New York Times, most recently as news assistant on the Society News desk. In addition to her work on that desk, Samuels contributed articles on hip-hop and R&B to the Business and Arts & Leisure sections of the Times. Her freelance work has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Source, Essence, Glamour, Consumer's Digest, and Billboard. Samuels studied journalism in New York University's continuing-education program, where she earned a Merit Award in 1993. She has also completed course work in communications at the New York Technical Institute.
Samuels will be responsible for R&B music coverage as well as the weekly column the Rhythm and the Blues. She will work closely with Rap Columnist Havelock Nelson, staff reporter Shawnee Smith, and Rhythm Section columnist Datu Faison to give Billboard a strong presence in the R&B community on both coasts.

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