The Los Angeles Times has hired Nicco Mele as its deputy publisher, the newspaper announced late Monday.
As publisher Austin Beutner’s deputy, Mele will be charged with boosting content, revenue, product and audience development . On the digital end, Mele will analyze existing digital products and services for efficiency and craft new business products and opportunities in the digital space.
Mele’s background is primarily digital. At 26, he co-founded a digital consulting firm EchoDitto, aiding companies needing help dealing with the changing technological landscape. He also dipped his hat into politics, serving as the webmaster for Howard Dean’s 2004 presidential campaign, leading online fundraising efforts.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to contribute to an American institution such as the Los Angeles Times with its rich and storied history,” said Mele. “It is an exciting and challenging time for media companies in a competitive digital landscape. The opportunities abound. I am excited to get started and help The Times navigate a future of great promise.”
“More than ever, as we go forward, we will have to find our customers each and every day, tell compelling stories with words, pictures, graphics and video – and do so across an increasing number of digital platforms,” Times publisher and CEO Austin Beutner said. We need to grow our digital revenue by offering products and services that provide great value to our subscribers, sponsors and advertisers. Nicco brings the ideal set of skills and experience to help us meet this challenge.”