Tempo

Tempo was an Italian illustrated weekly news magazine published in Milan from 1939 until 1976, apart from a temporary suspension during the Second World War. It was launched on 9 June 1939 by the Mondadori publishing company and was conceived as a modern, visually led periodical modeled partly on major American magazines such as Life and Newsweek. Its subtitle described its editorial scope as a weekly devoted to politics, information, literature, and art. The magazine was notable for its visual presentation and for being described as Italy's first full-colour illustrated magazine. Its editorial formula combined photography, current affairs, political reporting, cultural writing, literature, and art. Although its presentation drew comparisons with Life, Tempo placed greater emphasis on political subjects than that American model. Its early contributors included Massimo Bontempelli, Curzio Malaparte, Lamberti Sorrentino, and Salvatore Quasimodo. Alberto Mondadori, the son of publisher Arnoldo Mondadori, was associated with the editorial direction, while Indro Montanelli served as the first editor-in-chief. Bruno Munari was the art director from the magazine's launch until September 1943, also working in that capacity for Mondadori's Grazia. Tempo expanded beyond the Italian market before the war. By 1942, editions were being produced in eight additional languages or national-language markets, including Albanian, Croatian, French, Greek, Romanian, Spanish, German, and Hungarian. A German-language edition was published between 1940 and 1943 by Mondadori. This international edition program made the title more than a strictly domestic Italian periodical, although its principal editorial and publishing base remained Milan. Publication stopped on 8 September 1943 after the German occupation of northern Italy. In 1946, Mondadori sold the magazine to Aldo Palazzi, who relaunched it and became both its owner and publisher. During the Palazzi period, Tempo initially adopted a centrist political orientation. In the 1950s, its tone became less sentimental and more progressive and secular. During the 1960s, the magazine frequently carried political and news coverage with moderate and conservative tones, reflecting a later editorial position that was distinct from its earlier postwar stance. The title reached substantial circulation in the mid-1950s. It reportedly sold 500,000 copies in 1955, making it one of the most widely read magazines in Italy at the time. Its cultural and political importance was also reflected in notable contributors and landmark visual journalism. Pier Paolo Pasolini edited an advice column titled Il caos in the late 1960s. Photographers associated with the magazine included John Philiphs, who had previously worked for Life, and Federico Patellani. One of Tempo's most remembered covers was issue 22, dated 16–22 June 1946. Patellani's photograph showed a smiling young woman holding a copy of Corriere della Sera with a headline announcing the birth of the Italian Republic. The image became associated with the country's transition to republican government; the woman was identified in 2016 as Anna Iberti. Tempo also published an interview with the Sicilian bandit Salvatore Giuliano in 1948, conducted by American journalist Michael Stern and originally published in True magazine in 1947. Tempo ceased publication in 1976. No current operating company, website, or successor ownership is established in the supplied reference material.

Tempo was established by Mondadori and released its first issue in Milan on 9 June 1939. It was introduced as an illustrated weekly covering political affairs, general information, literature, and art. The magazine's format drew on the visual and editorial influence of American publications, particularly Life and Newsweek, but it developed a stronger political emphasis than Life. It was described as Italy's first full-colour illustrated magazine, positioning photography and graphic presentation at the center of its news and cultural coverage. The early editorial team connected Tempo with several important figures in Italian publishing and culture. Alberto Mondadori, son of Arnoldo Mondadori, was involved as editor, and Indro Montanelli was the first editor-in-chief. Bruno Munari served as art director from the launch through September 1943, simultaneously holding a similar role at Mondadori's Grazia. Early contributors included Massimo Bontempelli, Curzio Malaparte, Lamberti Sorrentino, and Salvatore Quasimodo. Their participation gave the magazine a broad cultural profile in addition to its political and news content. Photographic contributors included John Philiphs and Federico Patellani. The title developed an international publishing program before the war. By 1942, editions were available in eight additional language or national markets: Albanian, Croatian, French, Greek, Romanian, Spanish, German, and Hungarian. The German edition ran from 1940 to 1943 and was also published by Mondadori. Despite this expansion, Milan remained the magazine's headquarters and principal publishing center. The wartime period disrupted the publication. Tempo stopped appearing on 8 September 1943 following the occupation of northern Italy by the German army. The interruption lasted until the title was relaunched after the war. In 1946, Mondadori sold Tempo to Aldo Palazzi. Palazzi assumed ownership and publishing responsibility, marking a change in the magazine's corporate and editorial administration. During the first part of the Palazzi era, Tempo was associated with a centrist political position. Its tone changed during the 1950s, when it became less sentimental and adopted a more progressive and secular outlook. By the 1960s, its political and news articles often carried moderate and conservative tones. These shifts show that the magazine was not defined by a single permanent ideological position; its editorial identity changed in response to postwar Italian political and cultural conditions. Tempo reached a reported circulation of 500,000 copies in 1955, making it one of Italy's most read magazines. Its combination of news, political writing, photography, literature, and art enabled it to operate across both mass-market journalism and cultural publishing. The magazine's contributors and features continued to connect it with major figures in Italian public life. In the late 1960s, Pier Paolo Pasolini edited an advice column called Il caos, while the publication continued to use photography as a central part of its identity. A particularly significant issue was number 22, dated 16–22 June 1946. Its cover carried Federico Patellani's photograph of a smiling young woman holding a Corriere della Sera newspaper whose headline announced the birth of the Italian Republic. The image became an emblematic representation of the new republican period. The woman was identified in 2016 as Anna Iberti, who had been working as an administrative clerk at the socialist newspaper Avanti! when the photograph was taken. The magazine also published notable reportage. In 1948 it carried an interview with Salvatore Giuliano by American journalist Michael Stern. The interview had originally appeared in True magazine in 1947, and its publication in Tempo added to the title's record of political and crime-related coverage. By the end of the 1960s, the magazine remained active as a general illustrated weekly with a political and cultural orientation, but it eventually ceased publication in 1976. The supplied sources do not establish a successor title, current owner, or active website.

1. 1976Publication ends

   Tempo ceases publication after operating as an Italian weekly for most of the period from 1939 to 1976.

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2. 1955Reported circulation reaches 500,000 copies

   Tempo records reported sales of 500,000 copies and ranks among Italy's most-read magazines.

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3. 1946Postwar relaunch under Aldo Palazzi

   Mondadori sells the magazine to Aldo Palazzi, who relaunches it as owner and publisher.

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4. 1946Republic-era cover becomes emblematic

   The cover of the 16–22 June issue uses Federico Patellani's photograph associated with Italy's transition to a republic.

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5. 1943Wartime publication interruption

   Tempo stops publication on 8 September following the German occupation of northern Italy.

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6. 1942Foreign-language editions expand

   The magazine has editions in eight additional languages or national markets, including German and Hungarian.

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7. 1939Tempo launches in Milan

   Mondadori publishes the first issue on 9 June as a full-colour illustrated weekly covering politics, information, literature, and art.

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A visually distinctive Italian weekly combining political and general news with literature, art, photography, and cultural commentary. Its editorial stance shifted over time from an early centrist postwar position to a more progressive and secular tone in the 1950s, followed by moderate and conservative political coverage during the 1960s.

• Tempo weekly magazineNews magazine1939

  The core Italian edition was a weekly illustrated periodical combining political reporting, general news, literature, art, photography, and cultural commentary. Its design was influenced by American illustrated magazines, while its editorial scope gave politics a larger role than the Life model. The magazine was published in Milan from 1939, interrupted during the war, relaunched in 1946, and discontinued in 1976.

• Tempo foreign-language editionsInternational magazine editions1940

  Before and during the Second World War, Tempo was adapted for multiple language markets. By 1942, editions existed in Albanian, Croatian, French, Greek, Romanian, Spanish, German, and Hungarian. The German edition was published by Mondadori from 1940 to 1943. The supplied material does not provide separate circulation or editorial details for each edition.

• 1976Decision to end publicationOther

  Tempo had operated as an Italian illustrated weekly since 1939, with a wartime interruption and several changes in editorial positioning.

  What changed. The magazine ceased publication in 1976.

  Aftermath. The title became defunct; the supplied references do not identify a successor publication or current owner.

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• 1946Transfer of ownership to Aldo PalazziM&A

  Following the wartime interruption, Mondadori no longer retained ownership of the magazine.

  What changed. Mondadori sold Tempo to Aldo Palazzi, who relaunched the title and assumed both ownership and publishing responsibility.

  Aftermath. The relaunch began a new phase in which the magazine initially adopted a centrist political stance, later becoming more progressive and secular in the 1950s.

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• 1976Tempo ceases publication

  After nearly four decades of publication, the Italian weekly magazine ended its run.

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• 1955Tempo reaches 500,000 copies in circulation

  The magazine reportedly sold 500,000 copies, placing it among Italy's most widely read magazines at the time.

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• 1948Tempo publishes an interview with Salvatore Giuliano

  The magazine published Michael Stern's interview with the Italian bandit Salvatore Giuliano, originally published in True in 1947.

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• 1946Tempo is sold and relaunched under Aldo Palazzi

  Mondadori sold the title to Aldo Palazzi, who relaunched it and became both its owner and publisher.

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• 1946Tempo publishes its symbolic 1946 Republic cover

  A Federico Patellani photograph published on the cover of the 16–22 June issue became associated with the proclamation of the Italian Republic.

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• 1943Tempo suspends publication during the German occupation of northern Italy

  Publication stopped on 8 September 1943 after northern Italy came under German occupation during the Second World War.

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• 1939Tempo begins publication as a full-colour illustrated weekly

  Mondadori launched Tempo in Milan on 9 June 1939 as a weekly covering politics, information, literature, and art.

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1. Tempo (Italian magazine)