il Giornale, known from its founding in 1974 until 1983 as il Giornale nuovo , is an Italian-language daily newspaper published in Milan with an average circulation of 28,933 in May 2023.[1] In 2006, it was considered one of Italy's main national newspapers.[2][3][4]
The newspaper was founded in 1974 by the journalist Indro Montanelli,[5][6] together with the colleagues Enzo Bettiza, Ferenc Fejtő, Raymond Aron
In 1977, Montanelli, who was in financial difficulties, accepted an offer by Silvio Berlusconi, who became the new owner.[11] In 1983, the paper was renamed as il Giornale.[6] When Berlusconi entered politics in December 1993, Montanelli left fearing for his own independence, and went on to found the short-lived daily newspaper La Voce.[12] In 1992, Berlusconi left the role of the owner of il Giornale to his brother, Paolo Berlusconi.[11] Vittorio Feltri replaced Montanelli as editor.[13] As of 2003, the publisher of the newspaper, Società Europea di Edizioni,[14] was owned by Paolo Berlusconi (58.3%) and Arnoldo Mondadori Editore (41.7% directly and indirectly). Until May 2005, the paper was published in broadsheet format, when it switched to tabloid format.[14] In May 2005, il Giornale also started its online version.[15] In 2007, the monthly business magazine Espansione became a supplement of the paper.[16][17] As of 2016, Società Europea di Edizioni was still partially owned by Arnoldo Mondadori Editore directly for 36.90%,[18] which is a listed company that majority owned by Fininvest. It was reported that by Roberto Amodei, the owner of several sports newspaper of Italy, had interested to subscribe the capital increase of Società Europea di Edizioni.[19]
The Berlusconi family sold il Giornale to Antonio Angelucci (who also owns Libero and Il Tempo) in September 2023.[20]
In 1997, il Giornale was the seventh best-selling Italian newspaper, with a circulation of 218,741 copies.[21] The paper had a circulation of 235,000 copies in 2000.[22] The circulation of the paper was 228,198 copies in 2001, and it was 219,363 copies in 2002.[23] The circulation of the paper was 216,000 copies in 2003,[24] and 208,407 copies in 2004.[25] In 2008, the paper had an average circulation of 192,667 copies.[26][27] The circulation of the paper was 184,882 copies in 2009 and 183,923 copies in 2010.[27] In 2012, il Giornale sold 79,125,210 copies.[28] By 2015, the circulation of the paper was about 68,000 copies.[9]
il Giornale della Libertà was a free weekly political, headed by Michela Vittoria Brambilla, and attached to il Giornale. It was severely criticized by its editorial staff, who later went on strike, which was the second time after the departure of Montanelli.[29] The last issue was published in May 2008.[30]
The weekly columns published in il Giornale are as follows:
