In a historic move, Michael J. O’Loughlin, an award-winning journalist and gay man, has been named executive editor of the National Catholic Reporter, the nation’s leading independent Catholic news organization.
A New England-based journalist, O’Loughlin has amassed more than 15 years of experience covering religion as a reporter, editor, podcast host, and author. For the past nine years, he has worked at America Media, the Jesuit news and commentary outlet, serving seven years as national correspondent and most recently as founding executive director of Outreach, an LGBTQ Catholic news site.
At Outreach, O’Loughlin led multimedia coverage from Rome of the conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV, launched the site’s inaugural endowment fund, and boosted attendance at its national conference by more than 60 percent.
O’Loughlin also recently wrote an in-depth profile of a two-year Catholic college in Chicago serving first-generation Americans, a Washington Post op-ed on the early days of Pope Leo’s papacy, and an award-winning feature examining challenges faced by for-profit Catholic hospitals.
“At this pivotal moment for Catholics around the world and here at home, Mike’s deep knowledge of the Church, his commitment to independent reporting, and his proven leadership make him the perfect person to keep NCR moving forward,” said Joe Ferullo, CEO and publisher of the National Catholic Reporter Publishing Co. “We welcome his perspective and energy as we continue to serve Catholic and wider audiences with rigorous, compassionate coverage.”
Before joining America Media, O’Loughlin served as national correspondent for Crux, an online publication covering the Catholic Church that began as a project of The Boston Globe. He has also written for The New York Times, The Atlantic, and Foreign Policy.
He has earned awards from the Catholic Media Association, the Religion News Association, and the National LGBTQ Journalists Association, and is the author of the 2021 book Hidden Mercy, which explores how the Catholic Church responded to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United States. His reporting on HIV and AIDS earned a 2023 GLAAD Media Award nomination.
“I am honored to join National Catholic Reporter,” O’Loughlin, who will officially begin as executive editor in January, said in a statement. “NCR’s commitment to independent reporting, sharp analysis and thought-provoking commentary remains crucial during this unsettled time and I’m excited to join the team as we help bring clarity and understanding to the people, events and circumstances shaping the world and the church.”
New Ways Ministry, a Catholic advocacy group promoting LGBTQ inclusion within the Church, praised O’Loughlin’s appointment, noting that the National Catholic Reporter is the first U.S. Catholic publication to name an openly gay person to its top leadership role.
Nguyen Huong Giang, a transgender Vietnamese reality TV star, has been chosen to represent Vietnam at the 2025 Miss Universe pageant, becoming the country's first transgender contestant. Miss Universe Vietnam confirmed the historic selection in an Instagram post.
"The Miss Universe Vietnam Organization has made a special decision: to handpick an outstanding representative, someone who embodies feminine beauty, intelligence, confidence, resilience, and above all, a strong heart that never stops striving," the Instagram caption reads.
The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating an assault in Logan Circle in which a man allegedly threatened violence against a passerby in what may have been a hate crime.
The incident happened around 10:30 a.m. on September 15 at 14th and R Streets NW. Police say the suspect, identified as 39-year-old Marshall Baxter, jumped in front of the victim -- a neighborhood resident -- and swung his fists, narrowly missing them.
According to an MPD press release, Baxter, who has no fixed address, allegedly shouted a homophobic slur at the victim.
A Republican candidate who campaigned against transgender rights has dropped out of the Wisconsin governor's race after a local newspaper revealed he had followed several sex- and relationship-focused blogs on Medium, including one authored by a nonbinary porn performer.
Bill Berrien, a former Navy SEAL and CEO of Pindel Global Precision, a manufacturer of precision-machined components, was one of three Republicans competing for the party’s nomination in the 2026 Wisconsin governor’s race.
The 56-year-old businessman faced an uphill battle in the primary, where political observers saw him as the most "moderate" candidate. That perception stemmed from his past support for former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley’s presidential campaign, his backing of ranked-choice voting, and his criticism of Donald Trump’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
These are challenging times for news organizations. And yet it’s crucial we stay active and provide vital resources and information to both our local readers and the world. So won’t you please take a moment and consider supporting Metro Weekly with a membership? For as little as $5 a month, you can help ensure Metro Weekly magazine and MetroWeekly.com remain free, viable resources as we provide the best, most diverse, culturally-resonant LGBTQ coverage in both the D.C. region and around the world. Memberships come with exclusive perks and discounts, your own personal digital delivery of each week’s magazine (and an archive), access to our Member's Lounge when it launches this fall, and exclusive members-only items like Metro Weekly Membership Mugs and Tote Bags! Check out all our membership levels here and please join us today!
You must be logged in to post a comment.