The Hollywood Reporter on Tuesday announced the appointment of Shirley Halperin as its recent co-editor-in-chief, joining Maer Roshan to guide its editorial team. Each Roshan and Halperin are based in Los Angeles. Halperin will begin in her recent role late November.
“Shirley brings deep experience in entertainment journalism to this role, and is one in every of the industry’s finest,” said Jay Penske, CEO and chairman of Penske Media Corporation, parent company of THR. “We’re excited to welcome her back and know her contributions will likely 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 corporate after navigating a four-year stint on the helm. Moody shepherded the transition from MRC owners to Penske Media ownership while navigating the continued pandemic.
Under her leadership, THR undertook a big redesign of its website and launched multiple tentpole franchises, including Raising Our Voices, a print/digital initiative and gala that celebrates a number of the industry’s strongest voices in the variety, 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 got here 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 because 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 because the year-end No. 1s issue. In 2017, Shirley joined Variety as executive editor, music, and set in motion a series of latest initiatives within the space, including the annual Hitmakers event, the Music Mogul of the 12 months 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 real full-circle moment for me to be back at THR and to increase its formidable position throughout the industry. Having the chance 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 writer 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 12 months,” Roshan said. “In that point, THR has seen double-digit growth on a bunch of vital metrics, including traffic, social and video, and I look ahead to working with Shirley to proceed constructing on that success.”
