Maer Roshan
Maer Roshan is an Iranian-born American magazine editor and media entrepreneur who founded the general-interest publication RadarRadarOnlineRadarOnline is an American celebrity gossip news website that grew out of Radar, a magazine founded by Maer Roshan in the early 2000s. After the print magazine closed in 2008 the website passed to American Media Inc., and in 2021 it was acquired by Empire Media Group, led by Dylan Howard; since 2017 the site has pursued a freedom-of-information lawsuit against the FBI over Jeffrey Epstein investigation records.Open the full entry in 2003 and served as deputy editor of New York magazine and editor in chief of Los Angeles Magazine. He became co-editor in chief of The Hollywood Reporter in 2023 and its sole editor in chief in 2025.
Contents13 sections
Key facts
1979Leaves Iran With His Family
Roshan’s parents were both Jewish and met at college in the United States; his mother was from Far Rockaway, Queens, and his father was Persian. He grew up in Tehran and left Iran with his family in 1979 during the Islamic revolution; his father stayed behind, escaped nearly a decade later and died of cancer shortly after arriving in the United States.[1]
He was born in Tehran and moved to New York at age 12.[2]
Since 1979Grows Up in New York
Roshan was raised in New York and graduated from New York University.[3]
1993–2000Deputy Editor of New York Magazine
From 1993 to 2000 Roshan was deputy editor of New York magazine. His writing has appeared in publications including The New York Times, The Atlantic and Vogue.[4]
Early 2000s–2003From Talk to Founding Radar
In the early 2000s Roshan was editorial director of Talk; in 2003 he started Radar on his living-room floor, with funding from Jeffrey Epstein and Mort Zuckerman.[1]
Tina Brown hired him as editorial director of Talk; the press release issued at his hiring said the magazine’s circulation grew by double digits in his first year.[5]
2012Moves to Los Angeles to Run Awesome Projects
In 2012 Roshan moved to Los Angeles to run Awesome Projects, an editorial and creative consultancy whose clients ranged from Telepictures to SnapchatSnapchatA visual messaging and social app developed by Snap Inc., launched in 2011, with photo and video messaging, Stories, augmented-reality Lenses, Snap Map and Spotlight.Open the full entry.[6]
Since 2016Edits FourTwoNine
From 2016 he also served as editor of FourTwoNine, a California-based national men’s magazine and website.[6]
FourTwoNine was launched in 2013 by Richard Klein, founder of Surface, and Roshan oversaw its relaunch. He said: “While ‘the gay’ is very much in our DNA, we have stories that speak to a lot of other people.” Earlier he had launched, and later left, the addiction and recovery website The Fix.[7]
2019Becomes Editor in Chief of Los Angeles Magazine
From 2019 Roshan served as editor in chief of Los Angeles Magazine.[8]
He spent about five years as editor in chief of the magazine.[2]
April 2023Leaves Los Angeles Magazine
In December 2022 the Los Angeles attorneys Mark Geragos and Ben Meiselas bought Los Angeles Magazine; about five months later Roshan left his post as editor in chief.[5]
August 30, 2023Named Co-Editor in Chief of The Hollywood Reporter
On August 30, 2023, The Hollywood Reporter announced Roshan’s appointment as co-editor in chief, sharing the role with editorial director Nekesa Mumbi Moody; both answered to Penske Media chief operating officer George Grobar and were based in Los Angeles, and Roshan began on September 25.[8]
July 31, 2025Becomes Sole Editor in Chief of The Hollywood Reporter
On July 31, 2025, Shirley Halperin, his fellow co-editor in chief, announced she was leaving The Hollywood Reporter for Rolling Stone, and Roshan became the publication’s sole editor.[9]
Halperin moved to Rolling Stone as its first female editor in chief, effective September 1.[10]
As of October 2026: Ventures and Honors
Roshan founded or launched the gay weekly NYQ, the general-interest monthly Radar and the addiction news site TheFix.com, and his honors include two ASMEs, a dozen Webbys and an Emmy.[2]
Related Organizations, Websites, and Public Accounts
The Hollywood Reporter: Official website: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/ (opens in a new window)[9]
Sources
- East Coast editor shakes up L.A.'s journalism scene (opens in a new window)
- Maer Roshan - Bar Raiser Summit 2025 - Archive (opens in a new window)
- Maer Roshan | Gold House (opens in a new window)
- Co-Editor in Chief, The Hollywood Reporter | Aspen Ideas (opens in a new window)
- The Hollywood Reporter Names Former LA Mag Head Maer Roshan Co-Editor-in-Chief (opens in a new window)
- Maer Roshan Named Co-Editor-In-Chief Of The Hollywood Reporter (opens in a new window)
- Maer Roshan Reimagines Gay Glossy (opens in a new window)
- Hollywood Reporter names Roshan its co-EIC (opens in a new window)
- Shirley Halperin Exits Hollywood Reporter for Rolling Stone, Maer Roshan Becomes Sole EIC of THR (opens in a new window)
- Shirley Halperin To Join 'Rolling Stone' As Its First Female Editor In Chief (opens in a new window)