Townhall.com appoints WMAL morning host Larry O’Connor as editor, expanding his national media responsibilities

Appointment takes effect immediately

Townhall Media has named Washington-area talk radio host Larry O’Connor as the new editor of Townhall.com, with the appointment taking effect immediately. The role places O’Connor in charge of the site’s editorial direction and day-to-day strategy at one of the larger conservative-oriented digital news and commentary platforms in the United States.

Townhall.com is part of Townhall Media, a division of Salem Media Group, which operates a network of conservative websites that also includes brands such as HotAir, RedState, PJ Media, Twitchy, Bearing Arms, and others. Townhall Media said O’Connor will oversee editorial strategy and guide the site’s growth.

Continues his on-air role in Washington

O’Connor is also a morning-drive host on 105.9 WMAL-FM in the Washington, D.C. market, where he fronts the station’s weekday morning program “O’Connor & Company.” WMAL-FM is owned by Cumulus Media and operates with a conservative talk radio format. WMAL’s station biography notes O’Connor joined the station in November 2012, after earlier work that included guest-hosting roles and digital broadcasting.

Townhall Media’s announcement also described O’Connor as hosting a daily live podcast, “LARRY,” carried on weekdays on Townhall.com and on YouTube. The company said he has been affiliated with Townhall Media since 2016 and has written for both Townhall and HotAir.

What the editor role signals operationally

In practical terms, the editor position typically centralizes decisions over commissioning, publishing priorities, and the coordination of a site’s voice and coverage mix—particularly important for platforms that blend aggregation, commentary, and original reporting. Townhall Media has framed O’Connor’s remit as both editorial leadership and continued audience expansion across formats, reflecting the industry’s broader emphasis on cross-platform personalities who move between broadcast, podcasts, and digital publishing.

• Title: Editor of Townhall.com (effective immediately)

• Concurrent role: Morning host on WMAL-FM (Washington, D.C.)

• Ongoing Townhall programming: Weekday live podcast “LARRY”

Context: leadership transition at Townhall.com

O’Connor succeeds Katie Pavlich, who previously served as Townhall.com’s editor. Industry reporting has described Pavlich as departing the position in November 2025 after a lengthy tenure and moving into a prime-time hosting role at NewsNation.

“Townhall has been a cornerstone of the conservative movement for decades, and I’m incredibly honored and excited to take on the role of Editor,” O’Connor said in a statement released with the appointment announcement.

Townhall Media’s publisher, Jonathan Garthwaite, said O’Connor will lead the platform’s coverage during what he characterized as a consequential period in American public life.