The Spectrum’s editorial board elected Anthony DeCicco, a junior communication major, editor-in-chief for the 2022-23 academic year last week.
DeCicco, a Westchester native, is currently serving as the senior sports editor, following stints as a contributor, staff writer and assistant sports editor. He joined the paper the fall semester of his freshman year, and has taken on more responsibilities with time.
Matt Parrino, a former Spectrum editor-in-chief and current faculty adviser, says DeCicco’s ability to foster a “positive work environment” will serve him well in his new role.
“The thing that’s always stood out to me about Anthony is his infectious energy,” Parrino said. “I feel with Anthony, he always brings a smile and a [positive] energy into the office, and he cares about the paper, the students and the university.”
Reilly Mullen, the Spectrum’s current editor-in-chief, cited DeCicco’s “pleasant” personality and light-hearted leadership style as reasons why she believes he will be successful going forward.
“He’s just a really pleasant person to be around,” Mullen said. “He’s always cracking jokes and he’s made it a point to be a friend to everyone in the office.”
Closing in on his sixth semester at the Spectrum, DeCicco has written more than 150 stories, including recaps, features, columns and album reviews.
In 2020, he received first prize for sports column writing at the Society of Professional Journalists’ 2020 Region 1 Mark of Excellence Awards.
DeCicco says he hopes to emphasize the publication’s digital and social media content, which he thinks can include everything from podcasts to “fun news stories” to short videos.
But mostly, he says he wants to give other students the space to grow as writers, editors and leaders — people who inform the campus community of the news that affects their lives.
“I want to give students the same experience I was given when I walked in as a freshman with no idea what I wanted to do with myself,” DeCicco said. “I want to uphold the high standard of journalism that has been in place since I arrived here. I want to give a voice to voices that are seldom heard on campus.”
When DeCicco first joined the staff, he says he was “really blown away” by the energy and the “seriousness” of the Spectrum’s newsroom. He says the opportunity to put together a newspaper on deadline and see his name in print the following day was “really cool.”
He says he enjoys working at The Spectrum because it’s a “community of like-minded people who are all working toward the same goal, which is to put out the best newspaper possible.”
Mullen says she is proud of how much DeCicco has grown over the past few years and is excited to pass the torch to her friend.
“I could not have more confidence in any person taking over this position,” Mullen said. “I have watched Anthony grow both as a writer and as a leader. I have watched him become a truly knowledgeable and mature journalist, as well as just a good person. And that’s what’s really important in this job.”
Justin Weiss is the managing editor and can be reached at justin.weiss@ubspectrum.com
Justin Weiss is The Spectrum's managing editor. In his free time, he can be found hiking, playing baseball or throwing things at his TV when his sports teams aren't winning. His words have appeared in Elite Sports New York and the Long Island Herald. He can be found on Twitter @Jwmlb1.
Photo: Ryan Hagen | UB Athletics
