NEW YORK (AP) — Nekesa Mumbi Moody, the Associated Press’ music editor for the last 12 years, whose reviews have been a fixture in SoFlo Live, has been named the news agency’s global entertainment and lifestyles editor.

Moody will oversee text and visual staff based in New York, London, Hong Kong, Nashville and Los Angeles. The staff is responsible for coverage of movies, music, television, video games, fashion, food, travel and events such as the Oscars, Emmys, Cannes Film Festival and Fashion Week.

The announcement was made Thursday by Lou Ferrara, AP’s managing editor for entertainment and sports.

“Nekesa is one of the top reporters in source development and breaking entertainment news. She is a leader who will drive AP entertainment and lifestyles forward to provide top-tier coverage,” Ferrara said.

Moody, 41, began her career as an AP intern in Albany, N.Y., and later became a reporter in the bureau, covering state news, politics and sports, and contributing to the national entertainment report. She became an editor on the national editing desk in 1998 and continued her entertainment coverage. She was appointed music writer in 2000.

In addition to profiles and trend stories, Moody’s coverage of music has included the Grammy Awards, the Super Bowl and the death of Michael Jackson. She has routinely scored exclusives and broke the news of Whitney Houston’s death in February.

Moody is a graduate of Barnard College.

Photo: Nekesa Mumbi Moody