ABSTRACT
Founded in Turin in 1867, La Stampa’s history and identity is closely bound up with that of the regional capital. The sole shareholder is a subsidiary of the Fiat motor company. While the paper is distributed throughout Italy and abroad, its readership of around 400,000 is concentrated in Piedmont and its attempts to create a more national image for itself have frequently met with resistance. During the 1950s and 1960s this campanilismo (provincialism) sometimes took racist forms. However, the politics of La Stampa did become more enlightened, and in later times it severely criticized both Berlusconi and the Lega Nord (Northern League). Significantly, later top appointments were to include former members of the extraparliamentary Left group, Lotta Continua. La Stampa has also maintained serious coverage of cultural matters, giving ample space to the activities of the Turin intelligentsia.
