Larry O’Connor Tapped to Lead Townhall.com Amid Salem's Digital Push

WASHINGTON, Jan. 20, 2026 – Townhall Media has named veteran conservative commentator Larry O’Connor as the new Editor of Townhall.com, a move that signals a strategic deepening of the platform's editorial direction. The appointment, effective immediately, places a prominent multi-platform voice at the helm of one of the conservative movement's most established digital properties.

O'Connor, a familiar presence to audiences across radio, podcasts, and print, takes charge of editorial strategy for the Salem Media Group subsidiary. The decision comes as Salem executes a significant corporate pivot toward digital-first content, positioning O'Connor's appointment as a key piece in its broader strategy to expand influence in a crowded and rapidly evolving media landscape.

A Veteran Conservative Voice Takes the Helm

Larry O’Connor brings decades of experience and a well-established brand of "principled conservatism" to the editor's chair. His career is a map of the modern conservative media's evolution, beginning with his early work for the late Andrew Breitbart. Writing under the pseudonym "Stage Right," O'Connor carved out a niche covering culture and the arts for Breitbart's Big Hollywood site before being tapped to lead Breitbart TV as its Editor-in-Chief in 2011. There, he was known for working directly with Breitbart, who he credits with teaching him "the art of war."

His tenure at Breitbart TV saw the video site become a high-traffic destination within the Breitbart network. He was also an early adopter of new media formats, launching one of the first daily live internet radio shows, a forerunner to the podcasting boom that would later define much of the digital media space.

Since 2016, O'Connor has been a contributor within the Townhall Media family, writing for both Townhall.com and its sister site, HotAir.com. However, his profile extends far beyond the written word. He is the host of "O'Connor & Company," a morning drive-time radio show on Washington, D.C.'s WMAL 105.9 FM, making his voice a daily staple for listeners in the nation's capital, including Capitol Hill staffers and White House officials. His daily live podcast, LARRY, airs on Townhall.com and YouTube, where it has amassed nearly 700,000 subscribers, demonstrating his ability to build and maintain a loyal digital audience.

"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. "This is a platform with a powerful legacy, an outstanding team of contributors, and a loyal audience that cares deeply about ideas, culture, and the future of our country. I’m eager to build on that foundation, elevate strong conservative voices, and help Townhall continue to inform, challenge, and inspire readers every day."

Salem Media's Strategic Pivot to Digital

O'Connor's appointment is not an isolated personnel change but a calculated move within parent company Salem Media Group's aggressive digital transformation. Over the past 18 months, Salem has undertaken significant financial restructuring to sharpen its focus on its most profitable and high-growth assets: talk radio and digital media.

In late 2024, the company sold a portfolio of seven Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) radio stations for $80 million. The proceeds were strategically used to buy back over $150 million in debt at a significant discount, shoring up its balance sheet for future investments. That move was followed by a $40 million investment from The Christian Community Foundation (WaterStone), explicitly earmarked to fuel digital media growth.

This pivot reflects a clear-eyed assessment of the media industry, where traditional broadcast revenues have declined while digital consumption—through websites, streaming, and podcasts—continues to surge. Salem has identified its digital properties, including the Salem Web Network, Salem Podcast Network, and Townhall Media, as its primary growth engines. The company has also been actively forging partnerships, acquiring a stake in the news aggregator MxM News and renewing podcast agreements with personalities like Lara Trump to bolster its digital lineup.

Jonathan Garthwaite, Publisher of Townhall Media, framed O'Connor's appointment within this strategic vision. "Larry O’Connor is the perfect leader for Townhall.com," Garthwaite stated. "He brings credibility, experience, and a genuine respect for both our contributors and our audience... We’re excited to support his vision and lead Townhall.com’s coverage at a critical period in America.” By installing a leader who is already a native of the multi-platform digital world, Salem is betting on O'Connor to not only guide Townhall's editorial content but also to integrate it more seamlessly across its expanding ecosystem of audio, video, and text.

Shaping the Narrative in a Polarized Landscape

The decision to elevate O'Connor comes at a time of intense competition and fragmentation within conservative media. While legacy brands like Fox News remain dominant, the digital space is a dynamic battleground populated by powerful players like The Daily Wire, Breitbart, The Federalist, and Newsmax. In this environment, success often hinges on cultivating a distinct brand identity and fostering a strong connection with a dedicated audience.

Industry trends show a clear shift away from traditional media gatekeepers. Trust in national news organizations has fallen, while audiences, particularly younger generations, increasingly turn to niche platforms, social media influencers, and personality-driven podcasts for information. These platforms often thrive by catering to specific ideological viewpoints, a factor that has contributed to the nation's deepening partisan divide.

O'Connor's leadership at Townhall.com is poised to capitalize on these trends. His established presence across radio and podcasting gives the platform a built-in advantage in reaching audiences who prefer audio and video content. His experience in building a large personal following suggests an understanding of the "participatory culture" that defines modern conservative media, where engagement and audience loyalty are paramount.

Under his editorship, Townhall.com is expected to reinforce its commitment to "principled conservative journalism," potentially sharpening its focus on the cultural and political issues that resonate most with its base. With his finger on the pulse of the D.C. political scene via his WMAL show and his deep roots in the conservative movement, O'Connor is uniquely positioned to shape the narrative presented to Townhall's national readership. His appointment solidifies Townhall's role not just as a news aggregator, but as a proactive voice in the ongoing ideological conversation that defines American politics.