Julio Ricardo Varela

As Digital Media Director and VP of New Business Development for Futuro Media, Julio (Julito) Ricardo Varela works with all of Futuro’s shows and is a key voice is shaping the company’s digital and business visions. He is also a frequent contributor to Latino USA, LatinoUSA.org editor and co-host (with Maria Hinojosa) of In The Thick. In 2018, Futuro Media acquired LatinoRebels.com, the digital news site Julio founded in 2011. Latino Rebels is considered as a pioneer in the Latino digital space.

Before joining Futuro, Julio was digital producer for Al Jazeera America’s “The Stream,” and his work has been featured in many global outlets, including NBC Think, the Guardian, ESPN, the New York Times, Quartz, Le Monde, WGBH, WNYC, Face the Nation, MSNBC, Fusion, Univision and Telemundo. He has made numerous national TV appearances for Latino USA, Latino Rebels and Futuro.

In 2015, the National Association of Hispanic Journalists honored Julio with its inaugural DALE (pronounced like Pitbull would say it) Award, given to “given to an individual or company that steps up and goes above and beyond to ensure Latinos are fairly and accurately represented.” A native of Puerto Rico, Julio spent his childhood between San Juan and the Bronx. He was also a contributing reporter at The Boston Globe. Julio graduated cum laude from Harvard College.