The Hollywood Reporter on Tuesday announced the appointment of Shirley Halperin as its new co-editor-in-chief, joining Maer Roshan to lead its editorial team. Both Roshan and Halperin are based in Los Angeles. Halperin will begin in her new role late November.
“Shirley brings deep experience in entertainment journalism to this role, and is one of the industry’s finest,” said Jay Penske, CEO and chairman of Penske Media Corporation, parent company of THR. “We are excited to welcome her back and know her contributions will be key to THR’s growth and evolution.”
Nekesa Mumbi Moody, who joined THR in 2020 as editorial director and has been serving as co-editor-in-chief since September 2023, is departing the company after navigating a four-year stint at the helm. Moody shepherded the transition from MRC owners to Penske Media ownership while navigating the ongoing pandemic.
Under her leadership, THR undertook a significant redesign of its website and launched multiple tentpole franchises, including Raising Our Voices, a print/digital initiative and gala that celebrates some of the industry’s most powerful voices in the diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility space, and THR Titan, spotlighting an industry legend. THR also was nominated for a prestigious National Magazine Award for best reporting and won a National Magazine Award for Journalists Under 30 for Lovia Gyarkye. THR also won dozens of other accolades, including National Arts and Entertainment Journalism Awards, SoCal Journalism Awards, Webby and Society for Features Journalism awards, during Moody’s tenure.
Halperin first came to THR in 2010, writing the last cover story of its broadsheet format. She served on the relaunch team and went on to oversee music coverage as the industry weathered tectonic changes in its shift to digital. During her seven-year tenure, she took on a refresh of sister publication Billboard, coming aboard as news director in 2014 and helping launch such franchises as the year-end No. 1s issue. In 2017, Shirley joined Variety as executive editor, music, and set in motion a series of new initiatives in the space, including the annual Hitmakers event, the Music Mogul of the Year issue and the Music for Screens summit.
Said Halperin: “I’m thrilled to return to the PMC family and to step into the role of co-editor-in-chief alongside Maer. It’s a true full-circle moment for me to be back at THR and to extend its formidable position within the industry. Having the opportunity to contribute to the brand’s legacy and work alongside such a talented team is incredibly meaningful.”
Halperin most recently served at Los Angeles Magazine’s editor-in-chief. She is the author of three books and has won multiple Los Angeles Press Club awards for her previous work at THR, Variety and LA Magazine.
“Nekesa has ably and energetically guided THR through many changes and challenges during her time here, and it’s been a pleasure and privilege to work alongside her over the past year,” Roshan said. “In that time, THR has seen double-digit growth on a host of important metrics, including traffic, social and video, and I look forward to working with Shirley to continue building on that success.”
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