Variety has named Sonia Saraiya as TV critic. Saraiya, who was most recently the TV critic at Salon, will be based in Variety’s New York offices starting on June 13. In her new post, she will provide expert reviews and analysis alongside chief TV critic Maureen Ryan.
“I’m delighted to welcome Sonia to our team at Variety. She has a smart, compelling point of view, and her incisive commentary will be a invaluable addition to our coverage of the ever-expanding TV business,” said Debra Birnbaum, executive editor, TV.
Variety’s chief TV critic Maureen Ryan said, “Sonia brings a lively combination of insight, wit and precision to her work, which I have admired for many years. We’re so lucky she’s coming on board, and speaking personally, I’m excited at the prospect of continuing to learn from her as a co-worker, instead of simply as a fan of her interviews, analyses and critiques.”
Prior to her stint at Salon, Saraiya was the assistant editor: TV Club for The A.V. Club, where she helped shape the television coverage and tone for the TV section of the website. Her previous work has appeared in a variety of outlets, including Jezebel, Nerve, The Rumpus, and the Internet media incubator betaworks.
“It’s an honor to join the Variety team and add my voice to such a storied publication,” said Saraiya. “I’m particularly excited to be sharing critical responsibilities with Maureen Ryan, an amazing television critic who I also count as a friend and mentor. I know that along with the rest of Variety’s brilliant reporters, we are going to make an amazing team covering the television industry during this particularly rich and tumultuous creative era.”
Saraiya is a graduate of Brown University.
