The Virginian-Pilot: Online executive named paper’s new publisher

The executive in charge of The Virginian-Pilot's online operations was appointed Tuesday as the next publisher of the newspaper.

David Mele, 41, has been general manager of Pilot Interactive since June 2008, overseeing businesses such as Pilot-Online.com, HamptonRoads.com and CareerConnection.com.

Mele will become publisher, as well as president of Pilot Media Cos., on April 16.

"I'm coming in with lots of excitement about our position in the market and the opportunities ahead of us," Mele said. "We are the leading news and information provider in Hampton Roads, and our audience is growing." He cited recent increases in Sunday circulation and online readership at The Pilot.

"The demand for strong journalism will be in place in this market for a long time," Mele said. "I don't believe in the myth of the death of newspapers.

"I certainly believe a media company like ours has to evolve," he said. "We're focused on delivering the news and information this community wants on whatever platform they prefer - from print to online to mobile to social media."

Mele will succeed Maurice Jones, who was confirmed by the U.S. Senate last week as deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Read the full article at http://hamptonroads.com/2012/04/pilots-online-executive-named-papers-new-publisher.