Openly Gay Journalist Michael O'Loughlin Named CEO of the National Catholic Reporter

Journalist and author Michael O’Loughlin, who is openly gay, will become the new Chief Executive Officer of the independent American Catholic publication National Catholic Reporter (NCR). He will assume his new role on September 14, 2026, while retaining his position as executive editor, which he has held since January of this year. This was reported by the publication itself.

The new appointment combines editorial and organizational leadership for the publication, which has a monthly audience of 1 to 2 million readers. As CEO, O’Loughlin will succeed Joe Ferullo, who has led NCR since 2022. The publication is expected to soon begin a search for a deputy editor to oversee the daily operations of the newsroom in order to relieve O’Loughlin.

Prior to joining the National Catholic Reporter, Michael O’Loughlin served as the executive director of Outreach, an organization founded by Jesuit priest James Martin to support LGBTQ Catholics. Previously, he was a national correspondent for the Jesuit magazine America, and wrote for The Boston Globe, The New York Times, The Atlantic, and other major U.S. media outlets. O’Loughlin is also the author of a book on the Catholic response to the HIV/AIDS crisis.