PRESSETAHITI.COM
Italy's press: from Corriere della Sera to RAI
The Italian press revolves around major dailies such as Corriere della Sera, la Repubblica and La Stampa, powerful regional papers, the ANSA news agency and the public broadcaster RAI, nearly all of them readable in Italian online and through apps.
Newspapers born with Italian unification
Several leading titles date from unification: La Stampa first appeared in Turin in 1867 and Corriere della Sera in Milan in 1876. Under Fascism the press was brought to heel; it returned as a pluralist press after 1945 and the 1948 Constitution.
Milan, Rome, Turin: the major dailies
Corriere della Sera, the paper of the Milanese bourgeoisie, is regarded as the paper of record. La Repubblica, founded in Rome in 1976 by Eugenio Scalfari, sits on the centre left. Il Giornale, created by Indro Montanelli, takes a centre-right line.
A wide range of editorial lines
Avvenire, owned by the Italian Bishops' Conference, reflects a Catholic outlook. Il Fatto Quotidiano, launched in 2009, focuses on investigations and criticism of the political class. Il Messaggero remains the capital's daily, widely followed for Rome's municipal affairs.
Italian and the minority languages
News is published in Italian, but minorities have their own titles: Dolomiten in German in South Tyrol and Primorski dnevnik in Slovene in Trieste. Switzerland's Ticino also reads Italian, as the Swiss press shows.
Why does the regional press carry so much weight?
In a country with strong local identities, Il Mattino in Naples, Il Resto del Carlino in Bologna, La Nazione in Florence and Il Gazzettino in Venice compete with the national titles. In Sicily, Giornale di Sicilia and La Sicilia dominate the market.
Il Post, Open, Fanpage: news born on the web
Il Post, launched in Milan in 2010, made its name with explainers and podcasts. Open, founded by the journalist Enrico Mentana, and Fanpage.it reach a young audience through social media and mobile apps, often away from the traditional dailies.
ANSA, AGI and Adnkronos
ANSA, a cooperative founded in Rome in 1945, is Italy's main news agency and also publishes in English. AGI and Adnkronos round out the field. Their wires are often the primary source during a government crisis or after an earthquake.
Watching and listening to RAI
RAI, the public broadcaster, runs Rai 1, the rolling news channel Rai News 24 and the Radio Rai stations. The RaiPlay platform offers live streams and catch-up. The private Mediaset group, with TG5, offers another perspective on the news.
Italians abroad and their media
A large diaspora lives in Argentina, Brazil, the United States, Germany and Belgium. The Corriere Canadese in Toronto and Rai Italia speak to these communities. Argentine newspapers also bear witness to this migration heritage.
The pink Gazzetta and Il Sole 24 Ore
Printed on pink paper since 1899, La Gazzetta dello Sport dominates sports coverage alongside Corriere dello Sport in Rome and Tuttosport in Turin. Il Sole 24 Ore, linked to Confindustria, is the leading daily for business and finance.
Press freedom and the journalist's profession
Italian journalists must register with the Ordine dei giornalisti, established in 1963. Several reporters investigating the Mafia or the Camorra live under police protection. Defamation suits against newsrooms regularly fuel public debate in the country.
Paywalls, satire and cross-checking
Corriere, Repubblica and Il Sole 24 Ore keep many articles for subscribers. The satirical site Lercio is sometimes taken at face value. Comparing with the European press or ANSA wires helps verify a story coming out of Rome.
Reading Italian news from outside Italy
- Pair a major national daily, such as Corriere della Sera, with a regional paper from the city that matters to you.
- Check the ANSA wire, available in Italian and English, for raw news and official figures.
- Watch the television news live on RaiPlay or listen to Radio Rai on your commute.
- Read a centre-left and a centre-right title on the same subject to gauge differences in interpretation.
- Subscribe to the Il Post or Corriere newsletters to get a summary of the news every morning.
- Check the date and author of articles before sharing them, especially during Italian election campaigns.
Access and subscriptions for Italian media
| Type of outlet | Access | Note |
|---|---|---|
| News site (Fanpage.it, Open) | Free | Funded by advertising |
| Major daily (Corriere, Repubblica, La Stampa) | Paid subscription, price varies | Premium articles locked, frequent trial offers |
| Il Post | Partly free, subscription for extras | Podcasts and newsletters for subscribers |
| RAI (RaiPlay, Radio Rai) | Free online | Some content geo-restricted |
| Digital facsimile edition | Paid subscription, price varies | Offered by most dailies |
| ANSA agency | Headlines free | Full services reserved for professionals |
Useful facts about the media in Italy
- Main language: Italian; German in South Tyrol and Slovene around Trieste
- News agency: ANSA, based in Rome
- Public broadcaster: RAI (Radiotelevisione italiana)
- Paper of record: Corriere della Sera; business: Il Sole 24 Ore; sport: La Gazzetta dello Sport
- Time zone: Central European Time, as in Paris
- Subscription currency: euro (EUR)
Mistakes to avoid when reading the Italian press
- Taking an article from the satirical site Lercio as real news, since its headlines deliberately mimic the style of the dailies.
- Confusing Corriere della Sera with Corriere dello Sport or other papers that carry the word Corriere in their name.
- Ignoring how close some titles are to a party or a large industrial group when reading an editorial.
- Sharing an old photo of a flood or earthquake presented as recent on social media.
- Using sites that copy paywalled Corriere or Repubblica articles without permission and with no guarantee of accuracy.
Your questions about the press in Italy
What is the most widely read newspaper in Italy?
Corriere della Sera and la Repubblica have traditionally ranked among the most widely circulated general dailies, while La Gazzetta dello Sport has a very large readership. Rankings shift every year with the move to digital, so it is best to check recent data.
How can you watch RAI from abroad?
RaiPlay streams Rai News 24 live along with some programmes, and news content is accessible outside Italy. Matches, films and series are often limited to Italian territory. Rai Italia, a channel for expatriates, is carried by some foreign operators.
Is any Italian press published in French?
The major titles publish in Italian. ANSA offers a service in English, and the Aosta Valley, a bilingual region, has a few media outlets that use French. For French-speaking readers, built-in browser translation tools remain the most practical solution.
Is Il Sole 24 Ore purely a financial paper?
It mainly covers the economy, taxation, business law and markets, but it also publishes political news and a Sunday culture supplement. Its editorial line reflects business interests, since the employers' organisation Confindustria is its main shareholder.