Angelo Paura
I am the U.S. correspondent for Il Messaggero, one of Italy’s leading daily newspapers, where I report on politics, finance, the economy, and the intersection of media, technology, AI and power.
Previously, I served as Editorial Director at Blasting News, leading initiatives in newsroom innovation, fact-checking and AI for journalism. During my time at Blasting News, we secured two EU-funded grants — Fake News Sicily and Eunomia — for which I served as the editorial lead.
I also worked as an analyst and editor at NewsGuard, evaluating the reliability of news outlets worldwide, and collaborated with the NYU Media Lab at NYU to develop and produce a newsletter on AI and local news.
My reporting and analysis have appeared in Politico Europe, BBC World Service, MediaShift, ProPublica, Motherboard, the International Center for Journalists, the Tow-Knight Center, BuzzFeed, Il Sole 24 Ore, Il Corriere della Sera and Mediaset - Tgcom24, among others.
I hold a Master’s degree in Engagement Journalism from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY, New York. I am a U.S. and Italian citizen. I’m based in New York.
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The Ethical Challenges of Immersive Journalism
It’s the year 2028. In your virtual
reality headset, where you can watch the news in an immersive,
360-degree view, the President of the United States is standing in front
of you. But are you sure it’s really the president, and not a
simulation reciting some troll’s script? Can you trust VR journalists to
be honest with audiences and follow journalistic ethics?
Read moreMediashift
Year: 2018
Way to an Italian Populist’s Heart Is Through His Stomach
The appeal of populist parties, no matter in what
country, is often based on the idea of a glorious past that’s been lost,
and might be restored. For some, this takes on the form of an obsession
with land and “purity,” or nostalgia for white supremacy. For others,
it’s about an economic system that rewarded hard work or protected the
“everyman.” In Italy, perhaps unsurprisingly, the way to the populists’
hearts is through their stomachs.
Read morePolitico
Year: 2019
Pizzagate Is not Dead
Hey, this is Angelo Paura.
In the parallel world of the post-truth culture spread by the former
U.S. President Donald Trump, rumors persist about a ring of pedophiles
engaged in ritual Satanic abuse, allegedly centered in an anonymous
pizza joint in the heart of Washington, DC. Even after more than seven
years, the "Pizzagate" conspiracy theory continues to be a topic of
discussion on infamous far-right and alt-right message boards worldwide.
Recently, it saw a resurgence in interest thanks to Elon Musk, who
shared a meme on X, explaining to his 165 million followers that,
indeed, "Pizzagate" is real.
In this issue, we will endeavor to comprehend the origins of this
discredited conspiracy, why it maintains relevance today, and its
anticipated longevity in the years ahead. Let’s go 🍕!
Read moreLinkedIn / Blasting
Year: 2023
For the Next International Confrontation, Look at the Moon
Imagine
for a moment that we can move ahead 30 years. In an empty white room,
the leaders of the United States, Russia, China and India are discussing
how to manage the resources of the moon and the asteroids.
Read moreIl Tascabile
Year: 2018
How to Destroy Your Optimism about the Silicon Valley
He never stops for a moment. He gets up, gesticulates and repeats every single movement. “Can you hear me? OK, so I’m doing a good job with the draft of my work. We have to set up a meeting because I want to talk about how the book is developing.” I peek from outside his office, whose the door is partly open. He keeps talking and signals me to come in and sit down, but I have to be patient for few minutes.
Read moreMedium
Year: 2017
Trump Offers Superchip to China as Nvidia Hits $5 Trillion Valuation
Donald Trump’s strategy toward China is coming into focus. After spending his first term unraveling diplomatic and trade ties between the two countries, the former president is now — though with difficulty — attempting to rebuild a relationship with Beijing. But he’s doing it on his terms, putting U.S. commercial interests and trade priorities first.
That approach was on full display during his overnight meeting with Xi Jinping in South Korea, marking a potential turning point after nearly a year of aggressive rhetoric, tariffs over 100% on Chinese goods, and tit-for-tat blows on sensitive sectors — from American soybeans to China’s rare earth minerals.
So what did Trump bring to the table? The one thing Beijing wants most: Nvidia’s cutting-edge AI chips. More specifically, the Blackwell processor — considered by analysts the most advanced artificial intelligence chip currently in production — and a potential game-changer in U.S.–China tech relations.
Read moreIl Messaggero
Year: 2025
Published in Italian
New York, the Italian Vote: “Cuomo Is One of Us” — But Young People Back Mamdani
New York - On Arthur Avenue, the heart of the Bronx’s Little Italy, the Italian American community is divided. Should they close their eyes and vote for a fellow Italian, former Governor Andrew Cuomo, despite his Democratic label? Or should they stand by the Republican Party and back Curtis Sliwa, a longshot candidate without even Donald Trump’s endorsement?
“I’m with Sliwa, and so are my sons — he’s done a lot for New York,” says Maurizio, chatting outside his barbershop. “Mamdani is too young and inexperienced. He promises things like free buses for everyone — but who’s going to pay for that?” He shrugs. “My wife and other relatives, though, are voting for Cuomo, because of his ties to the Italian American community.”
Two men exiting the butcher shop next door weigh in: “We’re with Sliwa — we’re Republicans,” says Marco, who owns a small business nearby. Owners of a popular local pizza place, speaking on condition of anonymity, share the same view: “Mamdani will hurt small businesses.” One adds, “Good thing we don’t vote here — we live in Westchester County.”
Read moreIl Messaggero
Year: 2025
Published in Italian
Mamdani Takes New York, “Time for a new era”
On Tuesday night, shortly after 11 p.m., Zohran Mamdani took the stage at Brooklyn’s Paramount Theater and opened his victory speech by quoting Eugene Debs — the activist who ran for U.S. president five times in the early 20th century as the candidate of the Socialist Party of America, and lost every time.
“I can see the dawn of a better day for humanity,” Mamdani said after winning the election with 50.4% of the vote, following a campaign marked by unprecedented grassroots engagement, especially among young people.
“I am young, despite my best efforts to grow older. I am Muslim. I am a democratic socialist. And most damning of all, I refuse to apologize for any of this,” he continued.
Mamdani also sought to reassure New York’s Jewish community — a third of whom supported him at the polls, despite over a thousand American rabbis having publicly urged voters not to back him. As of Wednesday morning, some members of the community expressed confusion and concern.
“And we will build a City Hall that stands steadfast alongside Jewish New Yorkers and does not waver in the fight against the scourge of antisemitism,” Mamdani said.
Read moreIl Messaggero
Year: 2025
Published in Italian