Born and raised in Naples, Alessandro grew up in a household of driven individuals. His father, Antonio Marchiello, and his career, he earned two university degrees in medicine and law, first oriented Alessandro’s compass toward a master’s degree in Journalism & Multimedia Communication. Antonio played an instrumental role in moulding the values of Alessandro from an early age. Alessandro explained how his father’s ‘dedication and passion taught me to be hardworking and stubborn.’ These values were fortified by a ‘healthy competitive spirit’ among his secondary school classmates, which he described as an essential ingredient in providing the drive to secure a top-tier law school at LUISS in Rome.
Although he no longer lives there, Alessandro looks back warmly on life in Naples, not only admitting that ‘people are more open’ than in Rome, but also that the Neapolitan pizza’s base has the gastronomical edge over its Roman rival. He vividly recounts the Lungomare, a street that hugs the bay and is alive with bustling bars during golden hour. His nostalgia reveals Naples as a steadfast friend, ever dependable despite the passing years, and it is this strong cultural grounding that later contributed to his curiosity to experiment with storytelling in new forms.
While studying law in Rome, Alessandro acted on his curiosity by creating a TikTok account @PopCulturale dedicated to pop culture, from concert highlights to explainers of potential group reunions. Choosing TikTok as his medium reflected his awareness of where cultural conversations unfold most quickly, and it gave him a chance to reach an audience beyond the classroom. Alessandro’s composed narration and innovative editing style make for crisp, quirky content that has grown an audience of over 20,000 followers. Though he acknowledged the content was inconsistent, his motivation gave him a crash course in video production and editing on his own. More importantly, it marked a turning point – Alessandro realised that what had started as a side project had revealed a deeper calling to explore digital storytelling as a career path.
This early experiment in digital storytelling sharpened his appreciation for how great journalists connect with audiences. He cites Oriana Fallaci’s blend of journalism and literature, particularly in I sette peccati di Hollywood, as a model of charisma and dedication that inspired him to pursue a similar path in understanding and conveying reality. He also admires Francesca Fagnani for the depth with which she explores her subjects’ lives, a quality he hopes to emulate.
Guided by these inspirations, Alessandro sought to build on his background in digital storytelling after completing his law degree. LUISS’s Journalism and Multimedia Communication course, with its focus on a media laboratory, appealed to his practical instincts while offering a safe space to refine his craft. Looking ahead, he aspires to gain experience at Rolling Stone before ultimately pursuing a career in television.
