Nicco Angelo Mele (born September 25, 1977) is an American academic, writer, and businessman. He is one of several managing directors of the Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation.'Nicco Mele - Managing Director' Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation From 2016 to 2019, he was the director of the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy,"'Nicco Mele Named as New Director of the Shorenstein Center at Harvard Kennedy School". Shorenstein Center. an academic research center in the Harvard Kennedy School at Harvard University that examines media policy and innovation. Mele was previously a senior executive at the Tribune Media Company and deputy publisher at the Los Angeles Times"'L.A. Times names Internet strategist Nicco Mele deputy publisher". Los Angeles Times."'Nicco Mele latest in Los Angeles Times executive exodus'". Politico."'Los Angeles Times Names Nicco Mele Deputy Publisher'". MarketWatch. and, prior, the founder and chief executive of Echo&Co, a digital and political consulting firm born out of the presidential campaign for Howard Dean. Earlier, he was the head webmaster for Dean's campaign.
Mele is widely published on matters exploring the intersection of internet policy, new media, journalism and politics. In 2013, his first non-fiction book, "The End of Big", which explored the consequences of our development as a socially-connected society, was published by St. Martin's Press."'Nicco Mele on how technology radically changes everything'" The Boston Globe. Mele also predicted Donald Trump's electoral success very early on."'Nicco Mele'". Harvard Magazine.
Mele is well known as an entrepreneur and investor in innovative businesses in technology and politics."'Nicco Mele '99 to W&M students: Curiosity, hope will help heal broken world'" College of William & Mary. He also serves on a number of private and nonprofit boards, including the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University. He is also co-founder of the Massachusetts Poetry Festival."'The Joy of Memorizing Poems'". Mass Poetry. He previously served as the Wallis Annenberg Chair in Journalism at the University of Southern California."'Nicco Mele appointed as new Wallis Annenberg Chair at USC Annenberg'". USC Annenberg. In 2005, Esquire Magazine named Mele one of the "best and brightest" in America"'Society: Nicco Mele'". Esquire Magazine. and is a frequent expert speaker and social commentator on the societal impacts of technology and the future of journalism."'Nicco Mele Speaks of Changing the Narrative'" The Vineyard Gazette. Mele is an advisory board member of Spirit of America, a 501(c)(3) organization that supports the safety and success of Americans serving abroad and the local people and partners they seek to help.
Books The End of Big (), St. Martin's Press, 2013
"What the Cuts Cut: A Field Guide to the Hidden Harm of Government Downsizing" co-authored with Marjorie Stern () 2026
External links Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy Nicco Mele's Harvard Kennedy School Faculty Page Nicco Mele USC Annenberg Bio
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