| Quotidiano comunista ("Communist newspaper") | |
 | |
 Front page ofil manifesto on 20 April 2005, the day after the election ofPope Benedict XVI | |
| Type | Daily newspaper |
|---|---|
| Format | Berliner |
| Owner(s) | Il nuovo manifesto società cooperativa editrice |
| Editor | Andrea Fabozzi |
| Founded | 1969; 56 years ago (1969) |
| Political alignment | |
| Headquarters | Rome, Italy |
| Circulation | 11,324 (May 2016)[5] |
| ISSN | 0025-2158 |
| Website | ilmanifesto |
il manifesto[6] (Italian:[ilmaniˈfɛsto]; English: "the manifesto") is an Italiandaily newspaper published inRome, Italy. While calling itself "communist" and broadlyleft-wing, it is not connected to anypolitical party.[7]
il manifesto was founded as a monthly review in 1969.[8] Its founders were a collection of left-wing journalists who engaged in the wave of critical thought and activity on the Italian left in that period. They includedLuigi Pintor,Valentino Parlato [it],Lucio Magri, andRossana Rossanda.[9] In April 1971, it became a daily.[10] It participated as a separate political party in the1972 election, but won only 0,67% of the vote.[11] In July 1974 this party merged with theProletarian Unity Party, forming the "PdUP per il Comunismo". This resulted in a period of internal tensions between those who wanted to safeguard the journal's independence and those who aimed to transform it into the new party's press organ. In 1978, the former group came out victorious as the leadership ofil manifesto largely left the PdUP and the newspaper fully regained its autonomy.[12]
Although critical of theItalian Communist Party (PCI), it was popular with many party supporters who saw it as more lively and independent than the party newspaperl'Unità. The 1991 dissolution of the PCI that gave birth to the social-democraticDemocratic Party of the Left was not followed byil manifesto, a paper that maintains positions closer to those of more left-wing parties, such as theCommunist Refoundation Party, while remaining independent.il manifesto is known in Italy for its bitter and sarcasticheadlines,puns, and clever choice of photographs. For example, the day of the election ofPope Benedict XVI, the first page ofil manifesto featured a large photo of the newly elected pope along with the title "theGerman Shepherd". Throughout its history, eminent Italian literary personalities have contributed to the newspaper such as the satirical poetStefano Benni, the novelistErri De Luca, and the novelist, philosopher, and linguistUmberto Eco. Additionally, it has included the satirical drawings ofVauro Senesi. For several years throughout the 1970s and 2000s, Parlato served as theeditor-in-chief of the daily.[13] From 2010 to 2023, its director included Norma Rangeri.[14]
On 21 December 2000, the newspaper's office in Rome was the target of a bomb attack by Andrea Insabato, aneo-fascist with past ties to theNuclei Armati Rivoluzionari andTerza Posizione. Insabato was seriously injured when the bomb detonated prematurely, and he was the attack's only casualty.[15] One of its reporters,Giuliana Sgrena, was kidnapped byIraqi insurgents in February 2005 and released on 4 March of that same year. A controversy erupted when theRescue of Giuliana Sgrena resulted in the shooting of her rescue vehicle by American troops and the killing of an Italian security agent.[16]
By the late 2000s, state aid to media in Italy was dropping andil manifesto began to operate at a loss. It was owned by acooperative of journalists until entering legalliquidation in February 2012.[9] Despite this, it continued to publish. The cooperative announced a subscription campaign to purchase the rights to the brand,[9] which succeed in July 2016.[17]
il manifesto had a circulation of 24,728 copies in 2008,[18][19] 22,140 copies in 2009, and 18,978 copies in 2010.[19] Its circulation fell to 10,516 by 2014.[20]
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