A new editor has been hired for Bethesda Magazine and Bethesda Beat.
Anne Tallent, who has spent the past 16 years as an editor at The Baltimore Sun, will head the editorial team at Z-Pop Media, which publishes the magazine and Bethesda Beat, CEO Scott Copeland announced Friday morning.
A Silver Spring resident, Tallent is currently director of content for news at The Sun. Previously, she was senior editor of features and editor of The Sun’s daily paper for young adults.
In an interview Friday morning, Tallent, 46, said she is excited to help deepen and expand Bethesda Beat and Bethesda Magazine’s coverage.
“When I saw the publications … I felt like there was an incredible opportunity to take a lot of the things that I’ve learned about local journalism over the course of my career and help serve this group of communities that deserves to have really robust journalism,” Tallent said. “And I appreciate the stake in the ground that the Beat and the magazine have established, but I also see so much potential.”
Tallent takes on her new role during a period of change, as the company adjusts to life post-pandemic and the sale of the business to Scott and Jillian Copeland in April.
Tallent said she enjoys the opportunities change can provide and is excited to be part of what’s next.
“If you have a successful publication, it’s a business, but it’s also an asset to the community, and it’s going to go through different stages and have different people who are going to step in and care for those assets and help them grow,” she said. “I like the challenge of helping take advantage of that opportunity to step back and say, ‘What should be next?’ ”
Scott Copeland said Tallent has the “the rare combination of skills and experience that is required for the job.”
He added: “She has extensive experience managing people and a newsroom, editing news and features, and she understands and embraces the need to engage readers online.”
Tallent replaces Steve Hull, the founding editor and publisher of Bethesda Magazine and Bethesda Beat.
“When my wife Susan and I sold our business to Scott and Jillian, helping find a new editor was one of my top priorities,” Hull said. “In Anne, we have an editor and a leader who can take what we do and how we serve the community to the next level.
Tallent’s first day will be Aug. 2.