Il Giorno

Il Giorno
Name	Il Giorno
Type	Daily newspaper
Format	Berliner
Foundation	1956
Owners	RCS MediaGroup‎
Publisher	Riffeser Srl
Headquarters	Milan
Language	Italian

Il Giorno

Il Giorno is an Italian daily newspaper founded in 1956 in Milan. It quickly established itself among national titles such as Corriere della Sera, La Repubblica, La Stampa, and Il Messaggero by focusing on regional reporting for Lombardy while covering national affairs in politics and business related to entities like Confindustria and institutions such as the Italian Parliament. Over decades the paper has intersected with figures including Giuseppe Garibaldi only as historical reference, contemporary politicians like Alcide De Gasperi and Silvio Berlusconi in coverage, and cultural personalities such as Alberto Moravia and Federico Fellini through arts pages.

History

Il Giorno was launched in the post-war period, during a media landscape shaped by legacies of Giovanni Agnelli's industrial expansion and the politics of Christian Democracy and the Italian Communist Party. Its founding editors sought to rival established newspapers such as Il Sole 24 Ore and Avanti! by emphasizing business reporting and regional news from Milan and Lombardy. In the 1960s and 1970s the title covered events including the Hot Autumn labor struggles, the activities of Brigate Rosse, and national crises like the Years of Lead while competing with broadcasters such as RAI. Ownership changes in subsequent decades involved media groups connected to personalities like Carlo De Benedetti and corporate entities including RCS MediaGroup; these shifts mirrored broader trends exemplified by mergers such as those affecting Mondadori and Mediaset.

Editorial profile and circulation

The editorial profile combines local reporting on Milan and Lombardy with national coverage of politics involving leaders such as Giulio Andreotti, Bettino Craxi, and Matteo Renzi, as well as economic reporting on businesses like Eni, Enel, and Fiat. Its cultural pages have reviewed works by authors and creators including Umberto Eco, Italo Calvino, Giorgio Bassani, Luchino Visconti, and Michelangelo Antonioni. Circulation has varied: competing with national dailies such as La Repubblica and regional titles like Corriere della Sera's local editions, readership numbers were influenced by the advent of digital platforms including Ansa wire services and online portals connected to RCS MediaGroup's other titles. Subscription and single-copy sales reflect industry patterns seen across outlets such as Il Fatto Quotidiano and Il Giornale.

Ownership and management

The paper's ownership history includes transactions and managerial appointments tied to major media companies and financiers like Carlo De Benedetti, Silvio Berlusconi, and groups such as RCS MediaGroup and companies comparable to L'Espresso Group. Senior editors and directors have included figures drawn from Italian journalistic institutions like Ordine dei Giornalisti and academic circles connected to the University of Milan and Bocconi University. Corporate governance has reflected pressures faced by publishers such as Gruppo Editoriale L'Espresso and broadcasters like Fininvest, with strategic decisions often compared to restructurings at La Stampa and Il Manifesto.

Notable contributors and columnists

Over time the staff roster and contributors have featured journalists, intellectuals, and cultural figures including Indro Montanelli (as contemporary reference point), critics and writers such as Angelo Guglielmi, columnists with ties to universities like Sapienza University of Rome, and commentators who have engaged with political leaders such as Umberto Bossi and Gianfranco Fini. Cultural coverage has included reviews and essays on works by Dante Alighieri in heritage pieces, contemporary reportage on artists like Gianni Morandi and Lucio Dalla, and investigative reporting in the tradition of reporters associated with outlets such as Corriere della Sera and La Repubblica.

Political stance and influence

The newspaper's editorial line has shifted across decades, reflecting Italy's complex party system from Christian Democracy dominance through the rise of Forza Italia and the transformations involving parties like Democratic Party and the Northern League. Its perceived stance has been compared with the orientations of Il Corriere della Sera and La Repubblica, and its influence in Milanese business and political circles has put it in contact with institutions such as Milan Chamber of Commerce and figures like Giulio Tremonti and Gianfelice Rocca. Coverage choices occasionally shaped public debate on reforms promoted by leaders such as Giuliano Amato or Mario Monti.

Format, sections, and supplements

The newspaper follows a multi-section layout including national politics, regional news for Lombardy, business reporting on corporations like Pirelli and Mediobanca, culture and arts pages covering festivals such as the Venice Film Festival and exhibitions at institutions like Pinacoteca di Brera. Supplements and weekend editions have featured longform journalism akin to pieces in Il Sole 24 Ore Domenica and magazine inserts covering literature, sport analysis of clubs like AC Milan and Inter Milan, and lifestyle topics intersecting with figures from fashion houses such as Armani and Prada.

Controversies and legal issues

Like many Italian newspapers, it has faced libel claims and disputes involving public figures and companies, similar to cases seen at Il Fatto Quotidiano and La Repubblica. Coverage of sensitive episodes—terrorism cases connected to Anni di Piombo actors, corporate scandals involving firms like Parmalat, and political investigations concerning individuals such as Silvio Berlusconi—occasionally led to legal challenges and editorial scrutiny by bodies including Ordine dei Giornalisti and courts in Milan. Debates about press freedom and defamation law reforms, with implications for media across Italy from RAI to private dailies, have provided the backdrop for such controversies.

Category:Daily newspapers published in Italy