The Advocate, the world’s leading gay news source, today named Matthew Breen editor in chief of the iconic Advocate news brand. Breen succeeds The Advocate’s current editor in chief, Jon Barrett, who has been named Los Angeles bureau chief for Entertainment Weekly.
“Matt’s instincts as a journalist and his passion for issues of importance to gay and lesbian readers have been key to The Advocate’s success for years,” said Barrett. “Similarly, his drive as editor in chief will ensure this 43-year-old, multiplatform media brand continues to thrive.”
“We are thrilled to have Matthew take the reins of The Advocate and continue the journalistic excellence Jon Barrett brought to the brand. Matthew will bring his proven leadership to The Advocate’s exceptional staff of reporters and editors, who consistently provide the most thought-provoking coverage of issues important to the gay and lesbian community. Matthew’s dedication and creativity will expand The Advocate’s long-standing tradition of superior news reporting,” said Here Media.
As editor in chief, Breen will lead all aspects of Advocate-branded editorial content. Breen will oversee The Advocate’s print edition, which for over 40 years has been the publication of record for the LGBT community; Advocate.com, the community’s definitive, daily online news source; and the Advocate brand’s growing video content, including the oversight of NBC News on The Advocate and The Advocate On-Air, the newsmagazine dedicated to examining current news, politics, lifestyle, and cultural trends.
Breen was most recently The Advocate’s executive editor. Prior to joining The Advocate, Breen served as executive editor of The Advocate’s sister publication, Out magazine. Breen joined Out as an associate editor covering music and literature. From there he was promoted to senior editor, overseeing the front section of the book, which includes the arts & entertainment, grooming, style, health, and travel sections. As Out’s executive editor, Breen assigned stories to columnists and edited various features, and spearheaded the publication’s Special Issues, including the annual “Power 50,” “Hot List,” and “Out 100” editions. Prior to joining Out, Breen was a freelance film critic, a programmer at the Austin Film Festival and Los Angeles Film Festival, and a film publicist at Rogers & Cowan and mPRm Public Relations.
“I’m incredibly excited to be a part of the continuing legacy of The Advocate, the unparalleled leader in LGBT news, politics, and opinion. I take great pride in being associated with a publication that has worked for 43 years to advance civil rights, tell the stories of our triumphs and our tragedies, and serve as a forum for the exchange of ideas,” said Breen. “Though our society has made some extraordinary strides in civil rights and equality in the past several years, our work—as a publication and as a part of a global gay community—is far from finished. I congratulate Jon Barrett on his incredible work transforming The Advocate and advancing the brand in video and on mobile platforms including the iPad and smart phones. I will endeavor to fill the sizable footprints he leaves behind.”
The Advocate will begin recruiting for a new senior editor to fill the open staff position immediately.
