Maya Salam

I am an editor and reporter for The New York Times, focusing primarily on pop culture across genres.

What I Cover

I am a pop culture buff who looks for stories that say something about the current moment. I gravitate toward offbeat topics that might not be covered traditionally, and I try to make sense of the ongoing shifts in how we perceive and process popular culture. I write news and feature stories, as well as essays.

My Background

I joined The Times as a copy editor in 2015. From there, I went on to become a breaking news and general assignment reporter, and later a gender reporter writing the In Her Words newsletter and column.

I started my career in 2006 at The Greeley Tribune, a daily newspaper that, at that time, served Northern Colorado and parts of Wyoming. In 2010, I joined Yahoo as an entertainment and news journalist.

I studied at the University of Kentucky and Metropolitan State University of Denver, and hold a bachelor’s degree in editorial journalism, with a minor in writing. I have lived in nine states from coast to coast, and spent the first four years of my life in Beirut, Lebanon, where my family is from.

Journalistic Ethics

Like all Times journalists, I abide by The Times’s extensive ethics policy. There is no higher priority for me than gathering and conveying the truth of the stories and the people I cover. I always keep an open mind and strive to be meticulous, fair and empathetic. I do not accept gifts, money or favors from anyone who might figure into my reporting. I do not participate in politics, nor do I make political donations. When I am working, I always identify myself as a reporter for The Times.

Contact Me

Email: maya.salam@nytimes.com

Featured

CreditErik Carter for The New York Times

Latest

‘Baby Reindeer’: What to Know About the True-ish Netflix Hit
The mini-series, based on the star’s experiences, has viewers wondering how much of it is real. Here’s the back story.
By Maya Salam
Blue Ivy Carter to Join Beyoncé in ‘Mufasa: The Lion King’
Beyoncé’s 12-year-old daughter will make her feature film debut as Kiara, Nala and Simba’s daughter, in a prequel to the 2019 hit.
By Maya Salam
The TV Show That Predicted America’s Lonely, Disorienting Digital Future
For 12 years, the MTV reality series “Catfish” has traveled the U.S., presenting hundreds of intimate snapshots of what can go wrong when the heart mixes with technology.
By Maya Salam
The Best True Crime to Stream: Scams, Schemes and Costly Lies
Four picks across television, film and podcast that depict the art of the con.
By Maya Salam
Larry David Has Always Been the ‘Seinfeld’ Finale’s Biggest Defender
As “Curb Your Enthusiasm” draws to a close, the “Seinfeld” co-creator gets another shot at ending a TV show.
By Maya Salam
Defining Moments
The Anxiety of Watching Risk Takers Clash Over Life-or-Death Decisions
On “Arctic Ascent With Alex Honnold,” big-wall climbers set out to make history. Their tense conversations give a peek inside the interpersonal dynamics of those who regularly risk death.
By Maya Salam
Audience Report
In the Oscars Audience, the Superstars Were the Superfans
See Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Martin Scorsese, Billie Eilish, Emma Stone and other stars in candid scenes that viewers may have missed.
By Amir Hamja and Maya Salam
Olivia Munn Had Double Mastectomy After Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Munn said she was given the diagnosis last April, two months after negative results on a test that checked for 90 cancer genes.
By Maya Salam
‘Spaceman’ Has an Identity Crisis. So Do Plenty of Sci-Fi Space Movies.
With the release of Adam Sandler’s odd, middling and expensive new Netflix film, a look at space movie misfires of the past and how history repeats itself.
By Maya Salam
Richard Lewis and Larry David, Best Frenemies Forever
The two comics were born three days apart in the same Brooklyn hospital, and their paths never stopped crossing. They became the best of friends — in their own way.
By Maya Salam