Blessed by the bishop
Giornale del Popolo Starts the New Year with a New Look, Concept, and Publisher
Giornale del Popolo starts the new year with a new look, concept and sponsorshipBy Markus Knöpfli The Bishop of Lugano is letting the Giornale del Popolo off the leash from the end of the year and putting it on its own two feet. A public limited company is being founded for this purpose. The third-largest-selling daily newspaper in Ticino is getting a new concept and layout to kick off a new phase in its life.
On Friday, November 1, the Giornale del Popolo will have a new publisher. The paper, which has a stable readership and circulation (27,000 copies), previously belonged directly to the Bishop of Lugano and will now be transferred by him to the new Società editrice del Giornale del Popolo SA. It will start with share capital of 100,000 Swiss francs, 100% of which will come from the diocesan treasury. Additional investors are to be found by the end of the year to significantly increase the share capital.
A rumor spread by Facts that financier Tito Tettamanti wants to get involved is denied by Matteo Oleggini, designated CEO of the new company. He says that no talks have yet taken place with Tettamanti. The only thing that is certain so far is that the diocese wants to remain a shareholder. However, a share was enough for it to secure a seat on the 6 to 13-member Board of Directors (BoD). No wonder: regardless of the size of the shareholding, the articles of association give the diocese "an important role" in determining the journalistic line and appointing the editor-in-chief.
Space for a newspaper with fundamental Christian values
The Giornale's first Board of Directors will largely consist of members of the previous editorial board. However, the AG will be chaired by 64-year-old Italian Gianni Locatelli, a former Director General of RAI and currently working at the National Cancer Research Institute in Milan. The new editor-in-chief will be Cesare Chiericati, previously a senior member of the TSI editorial team. Locatelli and Chiericati stand for journalistic and economic openness at Giornale and for the replacement of the bishopric and CVP. On January 1, the paper will also launch with a new layout designed by Milanese graphic designer Francesco Camagna and a revised concept.
The Giornale, which is leased by Publicitas, is linked to Corriere del Ticino (39589 copies) and La Regione Ticino (32000 copies) in the Tre Top Ticino combination, which generates 60% of its currently declining advertising revenues. According to MediaFocus, the Giornale generated gross advertising revenues of around CHF 10 million in 2001, CHF 7% less than in 2000. The paper is in the red for this and last year. Based on a market survey, Oleggini still sees room in Ticino for a daily newspaper committed to fundamental Christian values. The prerequisite is more money and a clear company structure. He does not see a rosy future. "It will certainly be very difficult for us," he says.
On Friday, November 1, the Giornale del Popolo will have a new publisher. The paper, which has a stable readership and circulation (27,000 copies), previously belonged directly to the Bishop of Lugano and will now be transferred by him to the new Società editrice del Giornale del Popolo SA. It will start with share capital of 100,000 Swiss francs, 100% of which will come from the diocesan treasury. Additional investors are to be found by the end of the year to significantly increase the share capital.
A rumor spread by Facts that financier Tito Tettamanti wants to get involved is denied by Matteo Oleggini, designated CEO of the new company. He says that no talks have yet taken place with Tettamanti. The only thing that is certain so far is that the diocese wants to remain a shareholder. However, a share was enough for it to secure a seat on the 6 to 13-member Board of Directors (BoD). No wonder: regardless of the size of the shareholding, the articles of association give the diocese "an important role" in determining the journalistic line and appointing the editor-in-chief.
Space for a newspaper with fundamental Christian values
The Giornale's first Board of Directors will largely consist of members of the previous editorial board. However, the AG will be chaired by 64-year-old Italian Gianni Locatelli, a former Director General of RAI and currently working at the National Cancer Research Institute in Milan. The new editor-in-chief will be Cesare Chiericati, previously a senior member of the TSI editorial team. Locatelli and Chiericati stand for journalistic and economic openness at Giornale and for the replacement of the bishopric and CVP. On January 1, the paper will also launch with a new layout designed by Milanese graphic designer Francesco Camagna and a revised concept.
The Giornale, which is leased by Publicitas, is linked to Corriere del Ticino (39589 copies) and La Regione Ticino (32000 copies) in the Tre Top Ticino combination, which generates 60% of its currently declining advertising revenues. According to MediaFocus, the Giornale generated gross advertising revenues of around CHF 10 million in 2001, CHF 7% less than in 2000. The paper is in the red for this and last year. Based on a market survey, Oleggini still sees room in Ticino for a daily newspaper committed to fundamental Christian values. The prerequisite is more money and a clear company structure. He does not see a rosy future. "It will certainly be very difficult for us," he says.
