Michael O'Loughlin to Lead National Catholic Reporter as CEO

O'Loughlin currently serves as the publication's executive editor, a position he assumed in January 2026. His appointment follows a leadership tenure by Ferullo, who has guided the organization since 2022 and overseen a period of financial and editorial expansion. Stephen Miller, chair of the NCR Board of Directors, credited the transition to careful planning, noting that O'Loughlin’s vision aligns with the board's goals for the outlet's future.

Before joining NCR, O'Loughlin built a career across various religious and secular media landscapes. He spent nine years at America Media, where he directed the LGBTQ Catholic news site Outreach, and previously reported for The Boston Globe’s Crux. An author of the 2021 book Hidden Mercy, which documents the church's response to the HIV/AIDS crisis, O'Loughlin holds a master’s degree in religion from Yale Divinity School. He will now oversee the dual responsibility of managing the organization's business operations and its editorial direction.