Moving On, but Not Going Away: Brian Blueskye Is Leaving the ‘Independent’ for ‘The Desert Sun’

I joined the Coachella Valley Independent in 2013, and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. The Independent has provided me with many opportunities in my journalism career.

Thus, it’s bittersweet to say that as of June 19, I will be stepping down from my position as the assistant editor/staff writer here at the Independent. I have accepted the position of entertainment, culture and celebrity reporter at The Desert Sun.

In the spring of 2013, when I began writing for the Independent, this was a very new publication. The first issue, a quarterly, had just hit newsstands; we would not go monthly in print for six more months. I was new to the journalism profession and didn’t know what to expect. Now, six years later, as I look back at what the Independent has accomplished, as well as my own accomplishments, it feels incredible.

This publication has won three national awards from the Association of Alternative Newsmedia. The depth of news coverage we have been able to do, with limited resources, on local elections, state legislation, homelessness, LGBT issues and a broad number of other subjects makes me proud. I’m honored to have been part of this publication.

I’ve enjoyed an incredible number of editorial opportunities in our local entertainment scene, covering both Coachella and Stagecoach every year since 2013; interviewing a long list of nationally touring bands; and getting to cover events such as the Palm Springs International Film Festival. I’ve also covered numerous great local bands. Some of them have said, “This is our first interview,” when I went to meet with them; many of them are still together in the local music scene, doing great things—and even enjoying some success outside of the valley.

All along, I knew that if I wanted to advance my career, it would probably require that I move outside of the area—which presented a dilemma: I’ve called the Coachella Valley home for 15 years now, and I love it here. That’s why I am so thrilled about this job at The Desert Sun.

On the flip side, I’m sad to be leaving a publication I’ve grown along with over the last six years. This publication has taken on such a diverse range of coverage and is an important voice in our local community, from Anita Rufus’ “Know Your Neighbors” column to Robert Victor’s monthly astronomy column, and from all the great food and beverage coverage to the fantastic in-depth arts and entertainment coverage.

The mission statement of this publication says it all: “We believe in true, honest journalism: We want to afflict the comfortable, and comfort the afflicted. We want to be a mirror for the entire Coachella Valley. We want to inform, enlighten and entertain.” A lot of work and sacrifice goes into putting that mission statement into action, and I hope that people will continue to support the Independent for a long time to come.