Sia Michel (born May 17, 1967, in Erie, Pennsylvania ) became the first woman to edit a large-circulation American rock magazine. Subsequently appointed as the deputy culture editor of The New York Times, she was promoted to the position of Culture editor in January 2023.

Biography

After Michel graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, she began her journalism career as a reporter and music editor with SF Weekly. In February 2002, she was appointed as editor-in-chief of Spin after having worked at the magazine for five years. The first woman to edit a large-circulation American rock magazine, she held that position until February 2006 when the magazine was bought out by new owners. During the time of her editorial leadership, the publication had a circulation of more than half a million readers. Hired by The New York Times in 2007, she was subsequently promoted to the position of editor of Arts & Leisure and pop music editor for the publication. She was then appointed deputy editor in 2018. During her tenure with the Times, she has served as a primary editor for Pulitzer Prize-winning film critic Wesley Morris and contributing critic at large Salamishah Tillet. In January 2023, Michel was appointed as the publication's new Culture editor. Michel has won several awards for reporting and feature writing, including a 1999 ASCAP Deems Taylor Award for her reporting on the death of hip-hop icon The Notorious B.I.G.