Sentinel appoints Brandon I. Brooks as Acting Managing Editor

Acting Managing Editor of L.A. Sentinel Newspaper and Co-Managing Editor of L.A. Watts Times Weekender, Brandon I. Brooks

Bakewell Media is proud to announce Brandon I. Brooks, as the newly appointed Acting Managing Editor for the Los Angeles Sentinel Newspaper.

Brooks has worked with the Sentinel and Bakewell Media in several different capacities over a 7-year span.  He is most known for his work with the L.A. Watts Times Weekender Newspaper, where he still serves as Co-Managing Editor. 

The Bakewell Family purchased The Watts Times in August of 2010.  In just two years with the Watts Times, Brooks led the organization to being voted the “number-one Black Tabloid Newspaper in America,” by the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), two consecutive years, 2011 and 2012. 

The recent appointment came with the unfortunate news that Sentinel Managing Editor, Yussuf J. Simmonds will be out indefinitely, after suffering a stroke while traveling from Washington D.C. in mid-December (2012).  

“It is unfortunate that this appointment comes under these circumstances”, said Brooks.  “Yussuf and I are a team and always will be a team.  I consider Yussuf my Yoda (referring to the character from Star Wars) because he is a mentor and more than a friend, he is family.”

Brooks shared that he hopes to have Simmonds back before the year is out.  Due to the severity of the stroke, he is more concerned with his mentor’s health.

“I just want Yussuf to heal and come back,” said Brooks.  “I appreciate the opportunity and position granted by Executive Publisher Danny J. Bakewell, Sr. but I have to admit, my primary concern is my friend’s health.  I pray for Yussuf and his family and that he recuperates and returns better than he left us.  Yussuf is a strong mind and a brilliant man.  I am confident he will win the fight and come back to us stronger and much wiser than before. 

“As we approach our 80th Anniversary this April, I am absolutely confident with the appointment of Brandon I. Brooks,” said Bakewell. “Brandon has demonstrated time-and-time again, that he is the right person for the job.  He knows what it takes to get the job done and I am simply amazed at how he connects the dots across the board.  I have seen him grow immensely in 7 years and I am excited to know he can continue to grow within our organization.  His leadership qualities are precisely what our company needs moving forward and toward the future.  Yussuf has mentored Brandon well.  I have no doubt that Brandon will step up to the plate and lead the Sentinel to new heights in 2013.”    

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