Mikey O’Connell, longtime writer and editor at The Hollywood Reporter, has been promoted to senior entertainment editor, THR editor-in-chief Maer Roshan announced on Monday.
“Mikey is one of those rare editors who can do everything — break news, land a profile, build a franchise— and he does it all with depth, wit and style,” says Roshan. “He’s played a central role in shaping THR’s TV coverage for over a decade, and I’m excited to see what he does with an even bigger canvas.”
Throughout his tenure at the magazine, O’Connell has covered the entertainment industry and profiled the likes of Tina Fey, Steve Martin, Teyana Taylor, Lana Del Rey and Conan O’Brien. Overseeing such flagship editorial initiatives as the Women in Entertainment Power 100 and the annual survey of the most influential writer-producers in television, O’Connell is also part of the team moderating, producing and booking THR’s Emmy-nominated roundtables. In November, he launched the weekly podcast I’m Having an Episode, which blends lighthearted industry commentary with in-depth interviews. (Recent guests include Judd Apatow, Olivia Munn and Julio Torres.)
Since joining the publication, O’Connell had been on THR’s television team, where his role evolved from beat reporter to features TV editor. During that time, he attended a brunch at Oprah Winfrey’s Montecito estate alongside most living American media moguls, took his first (and likely final) flight on a private jet with Kathy Griffin and documented the maiden voyage of the Top Chef cruise.
The news arrives as the publication just relaunched its celebrated New York issue and survey of the 50 Most Powerful People in New York Media, enters a season of ambitious Emmy coverage (with which O’Connell remains intimately involved) and bolsters its staff — most recently promoting Katie Kilkenny as enterprise reporter, TV and labor.
O’Connell will continue report to editorial director David Katz.
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