Il Foglio. History of the Italian Newspaper Whose Founder Hid Behind an Elephant

Photo: Author`s archive

In January 1996, Italy assumed the presidency of the European Union Council. The country`s president was Oscar Luigi Scalfaro, and the prime minister (until May) was Lamberto Dini. In the same month, specifically January 30, a new Italian daily saw the light of day: Il Foglio. Its founder was Giuliano Ferrara.

Ferrara, then 44 years old, was an experienced journalist with a portfolio that included both newspapers and television. He was also an active politician. From 1989-1994, he served in the European Parliament on behalf of the Italian Socialist Party, and in 1994 he became the minister for relations with Parliament in Silvio Berlusconi`s first government.

Before deciding to create his own newspaper, he was the editor-in-chief of the weekly Panorama. Raised in a communist spirit, Ferrara shifted towards the right in the 1980s, eventually becoming a conservative. Writing for others led him to the conclusion that it was time to work for himself. Thus, Il Foglio was born.

Two Sheets, Four Pages, and Six Columns

The name of the new Milanese daily translates to Sheet, and indeed, the newspaper resembled a 19th-century sheet-style publication: two sheets, four pages. Its defining features from the beginning were six tightly packed columns and inspiration drawn from The Wall Street Journal.


The early issues lacked photographs, instead showcasing illustrations and caricatures by Vincenzo Gallo (Vincino), who was both a graphic artist and a journalist.

On the front page, the main column was titled La Giorno (The Day), summarizing daily events. Editorial articles appeared only on the third page, and all texts, except for columns, were anonymous. Only Ferrara signed his articles—with an elephant drawing.

The columnists` section featured renowned and beloved authors, each with their own rubric:

• Nove colonne (Nine Columns) by Pierluigi Battista
• Vite parallele (Parallel Lives) by Sandro Fusina
• Andrea’s Version by Andrea Marcenaro
• Alta Società (High Society) by Carlo Rosselli
• Piccola Posta (Short Post) by Adriano Sofri
• Il riempitivo (The Filler) by Pietrangelo Buttafuoco
• Pignolerie (Grimaces) by Mauro della Porta Raffo

Pignolerie was the only regular column, published weekly. Mauro della Porta Raffo, who doesn’t consider himself a journalist, was persuaded by Ferrara to write it. The writer and essayist continued penning his Grimaces for the next 15 years.

To bring Il Foglio to life, funding was needed. A partnership was formed, establishing the publishing house Il Foglio Quotidiano Srl, with shares distributed as follows:

• Sergio Zuncheddu, financier, 40%
• Veronica Lario (Silvio Berlusconi`s second wife), 30%
• Giuliano Ferrara, 10%
• Luca Colasanto, printer, 4%
• Other entrepreneurs, 16%

Alongside the Milan editorial office, a branch in Rome was established. A year later, on January 2, 1997, the newspaper launched its website, becoming the first Italian newspaper to offer digital news.

The paper was published Monday through Saturday and quickly gained a following. Seven months after its launch, an independent supplement titled Il Foglio dei Foglio (Sheet of Sheets) was added every Monday, with its own numbering. It was edited by Giorgio Dell’Arti.

Farewell to Rome

The newspaper covered not only current events in Italy and around the world but also opinions, commentary, and analysis. It quickly became one of the most influential opinion-shaping publications in the country. Although its circulation hovered around 18,000 copies, its popularity, especially in Rome and its surrounding region, led to a decline in interest in Lombardy. Faced with this situation, the management decided to close the Rome office. On September 11, 1997, Il Foglio’s Roman branch was shut down.

That same year, a new shareholder, politician, and entrepreneur Denis Verdini, replaced Zuncheddu. The newspaper became the mouthpiece of the political movement Convenzione per la Giustizia (Convention for Justice), allowing it to access public funds designated for party newspapers. This was a legal loophole as the Convention was not a party but succeeded thanks to parliamentarians who supported the newspaper’s application.

Over the following years, Il Foglio earned a reputation as one of Italy’s most influential newspapers due to its diverse topics and opinions. Despite opposing the leftist cultural regime (as Ferrara described it), the newsroom included left-leaning journalists such as Adriano Sofri, convicted of planning the assassination of a police chief in 1972.

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Although its founder was a minister in Berlusconi`s government, whose wife was a shareholder, and he was friends with both, the newspaper didn’t shy away from criticizing the prime minister’s party and resisted pressure from any side. "We like to argue and put sacred cows in the stocks," said Ferrara.

With a team of just a dozen journalists, Il Foglio created a concise, credible newspaper with minimal advertising and zero losses (and, after three years, zero profits as well).

Two Approaches to Sunday

In addition to daily national and global news, the economic column gained particular popularity. Written anonymously by Giuseppe Pennisi, I soldi degli altri (Other People’s Money) explained the complexities of international finance. In later years, the same author detailed Italy’s path to the monetary union in the column Euro.

The new century brought several innovations. In January 2000, the newspaper began publishing on Sundays, and in July, it introduced color, starting with headlines and titles. The Rome office was also reopened. Unfortunately, the weekend edition under Sandro Fusina didn’t resonate with readers. On December 28, 2004, the last Sunday edition was published. Sunday editions returned in April 2008. Today, Il Foglio is published seven days a week.

The newspaper and its owner became well-known in Italy not only for commentary and opinions but also for various campaigns. In 2006, its journalists conducted a pre-election survey on party popularity. However, the campaign that made waves in Italian society was the 2007 anti-abortion campaign. On December 19, Ferrara launched it with an editorial: "[Abortion] is the greatest scandal of our time, a catastrophic wound that deeply tears apart the fabric and potential charm of modern society."

On February 11, 2014, as a counter to a UNESCO report on pedophilia in the Church, Il Foglio published an open letter appealing to Pope Francis not to succumb to "fanatical vanguards."

Authors Step into the Spotlight

In 2006, Il Foglio celebrated its 10th anniversary. Although its format (still a sheet) remained unchanged, its overall appearance evolved. It became more colorful and user-friendly, with thematic supplements for special occasions. Photos were increasingly larger, sometimes occupying an entire page (e.g., December 2, 2006).

Despite these changes, the front page remained dedicated to daily news in the La Giornata column, which now included the author’s name, as articles began to be signed.

In 2007, a separate supplement, independent of the main newspaper, was launched: the magazine Il Foglio del Mobile. Edited by Paolo Bleve, it focused on art, design, and creativity, gaining recognition from both companies in the industry and individual readers.

From 2010, the newspaper occasionally changed its format. During these times, it became an insert, with sponsored or special articles featured on its main pages. The first and fourth pages showcased artwork by Marco Dambrosio (Makkox).

An International Scandal with Lukashenko in the Mix

Although Il Foglio often stirred controversy with its articles, December 2010 saw a quiet international scandal. On December 3, the newspaper published an article titled Troppo bella per essere una first lady (Too Beautiful to Be a First Lady), focusing on Mehriban Aliyeva, the wife of Azerbaijan’s president.


Citing anonymous diplomats and featuring a series of photos, the article accused Aliyeva of secret meetings with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. The story was picked up by The Guardian. While foreign readers largely dismissed the report, it caused an uproar in Azerbaijan. President Aliyev, while tolerating criticism and allegations against himself, refused to accept any negative content about his family, especially his wife.

On December 9, an official statement expressed "extreme outrage over slanderous insinuations discrediting the honor and dignity of Mehriban Aliyeva" and demanded a public apology and retraction of all information. Il Foglio’s editorial staff remained silent, avoiding the topic despite threats and pressure.

Criticized by some and praised by others, Giuliano Ferrara resigned as editor-in-chief of Il Foglio in January 2015. Although he stepped down, he continued writing columns for the paper. As Cristiano Draghi wrote on rivisteweb.it, Ferrara left behind "a newspaper for activists and a tool of significant influence." On January 28, Claudio Cerasa officially took over as the newspaper`s editor-in-chief.

A Blogger at the Helm of Il Foglio

Cerasa began his career at Il Foglio in the Rome office in 2005. At age 33, he became the editor-in-chief, not only as a journalist but also as a blogger fascinated by the internet. He announced plans to expand the paper’s online presence. Overseeing two offices, twenty journalists, and a readership of 10,000, Cerasa implemented changes and innovations step by step. While respecting his predecessor’s legacy, he did not blindly follow the same path.

Changes occurred not only in the newsroom but also at the top. In November 2015, Il Foglio`s capital increased by €3 million, thanks to new shareholders: the holding company Sorgente Group, represented by its main shareholder Valter Mainetti, and the banking and business firm Sator di Matteo Arpe. By April 2016, Sorgente acquired some of Sator’s shares, and by December, it owned 100% of Foglio Edizioni, becoming its sole owner.

With broader opportunities, Cerasa launched a weekend edition in May 2015, primarily focused on culture and its wide-ranging themes. The supplement grew to 12 pages, offering content to suit various interests.

In the following year, additional thematic supplements were introduced:

• Starting in October, every Monday, fans of sensational, controversial topics and reports could satisfy their curiosity with Il Foglio monografico (The Monographic Foglio).
• In November, parents received their own Friday supplement, Il Figlio (The Child), featuring advice, stories, and illustrations. Edited by Annalena Benini, it tackled family-oriented themes.
• From December 1, every Thursday, Milan readers could find local news and events in Gran Milano, edited by Maurizio Crippa. A month later, in January 2017, a similar guide for Rome readers, Roma Capoccia, debuted, edited by Salvatore Merlo.

These changes resonated with readers, significantly boosting Il Foglio’s circulation to 45,000 copies. Building on this momentum, more supplements were introduced in subsequent years.

From Sports to Tackling Fake News

In 2017, two new supplements were launched. In March, Il Foglio internazionale provided politically incorrect articles every Monday, edited by Giulio Meotti. Also in March, La Fogliata di libri (The Book Spread) was introduced every Wednesday. This literary supplement was divided into two parts: essays and reviews, overseen by Matteo Matzuzzi.

In March 2018, a new Friday magazine, Terrazzo (Terrace), was launched as a tribute to Italian architect Ettore Sottsass. Focused on design, interiors, and related fields, it was led by Michele Masneri.


On August 18, the weekend edition introduced a sports supplement, Il Foglio Sportivo. Primarily dedicated to soccer, it featured articles, interviews, information, and a photo gallery. Comprising four pages, its editor, Piero Vietti, described it as follows: "We are small pirates. We’ll never compete with those who have been writing about sports professionally long before us. Instead, we’ll explore its mysterious charm in a ‘needless way,’ laugh at it when appropriate, and seek its grace."

Addressing the issue of fake news, SoundCheck, a weekly Monday supplement, debuted on September 17, 2018. Edited by Lorenzo Borga, it taught readers how to distinguish truth from falsehood in media.

On November 26, 2018, a Wednesday supplement titled Il Foglio 48 ore was launched under the editorship of Alberto Brambilla. It provided accessible explanations of economic, financial, and banking topics using infographics.

Exploring the Universe

Although the existing supplements covered numerous topics, Cerasa identified untapped themes and introduced a new monthly feature. On February 5, 2019, Il Foglio innovazione debuted, focusing on technological revolutions and innovations. It was edited by Eugenio Cau.

On July 15, another supplement, Il pensiero dominante (Dominant Thought), was introduced. Edited by Giacomo Leopardi, it explored universal themes and philosophical musings, including "universalitatem in rebus (universality in things)".

Cerasa envisioned Il Foglio as a small but impactful newspaper. Beyond daily supplements, he introduced email newsletters for subscribers. Each morning at 7:30, subscribers received links to key articles, Makkox’s cartoons, and previews of the day’s edition. Additional newsletters included:

• Afternoon topics for dinner conversations in Di cosa parlare stasera a cena, curated by Giuseppe De Filippi.
• Biweekly legal updates in Fino a prova contraria (Until Proven Otherwise), by Annalisa Chirico.
• Asia-Pacific news in the Tuesday newsletter Katane, edited by Giulia Pompili.
• Religious and church-related issues in the Friday supplement Newman.
• Technological insights in Silicio, edited by Eugenio Cau.
• European affairs in the Thursday newsletter EU Porn. Il lato sexy dell’Europa (EU Porn: The Sexy Side of Europe), edited by Paola Peduzzi and Micol Flammini.

Il Foglio also actively participates in social media and sponsors various events. Between 2004 and 2006, it co-organized debates titled Fratello embrione, sorella verità (Brother Embryo, Sister Truth), covering topics such as secularization, procreation, and voting rights. These debates aired on Radio Radicale.

Debates, Demonstrations, and the Festival of Optimism

As a sole organizer, the newspaper hosted numerous debates on political (e.g., June 2006), economic (e.g., May 2016), and cultural (e.g., January 2019) topics between 2004 and 2023. It also organized various demonstrations:

• Against Hypocritical Neo-Puritanism, February 2011 and June 2013
• Vigil for Israel and Persecuted Christians, July 2014 and October 2023
• and several others.

The newspaper also launched its own festivals. On October 21–22, 2017, the first Festa del Il Foglio - Le Giornate dell’Ottimismo (Festival of Optimism) took place. This celebration of optimism became an annual event, even continuing during the pandemic.

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Since 2019, Il Foglio has organized its second festival, the Festival dell`Innovazione (Innovation Festival). Since 2017, the newspaper has co-organized the Festival della cultura della libertà (Festival of Culture and Freedom).

A Milestone of Maturity: Monograph, Podcasts, and ChatGPT

In 2021, Il Foglio celebrated its silver jubilee. For its 25th anniversary, the January 30–31 weekend issue included a magazine featuring the best articles from past years. Mario Crippa, who oversaw the special edition, wrote:

"Much has changed here, except for the ‘sheet spirit,’ which carries a flavor of disdain and artisanal quality, lightness, and everyone beating the drum loudly when no one wants to listen. And they still have as much fun as they did on the first day."

Italy`s President Sergio Mattarella noted in his congratulatory letter:

"Twenty-five years mark a milestone of maturity, which does not detract from youthful energy but brings awareness of having accumulated significant experiences, contributed knowledge and reflections, and provided critical thinking and analysis valuable to the public."

To mark its anniversary, the newspaper:

• reduced its format and slightly updated its design for easier reading
• opened a printing facility in Messina, Sicily, expanding its reach
• published a monograph 25 anni Il Foglio (25 Years of Il Foglio)
• revamped its website
• launched a podcast section
• announced upcoming channels and applications

Claudio Cerasa, who has led the newsroom for nine years, embraces challenges. As an internet and technology enthusiast, he introduced ChatGPT to the website in March 2023. Cerasa also announced a reader contest: anyone who identified articles written by artificial intelligence (AI) would receive a prize of a free subscription and a bottle of champagne.

The competition ran for a month, with weekly prize distributions. As Cerasa stated:

"Il Foglio launches this campaign with an awareness of the uniqueness of its ideas and the limitations of AI, which cannot compete effectively when creativity, imagination, and quality are central to journalistic work. AI can be a useful tool supporting journalists but cannot replace their ability to generate original ideas and produce high-quality content."

Today, Il Foglio is still referred to as "Italy`s smallest newspaper." It maintains its four-page format, two offices (in Rome and Milan), and a team of 25 journalists. Among them is its founder, Giuliano Ferrara, affectionately called "The Little Elephant," who continues to contribute his columns.

Although it ranks 11th in circulation, Il Foglio is one of the few Italian newspapers generating profits. In 2021 alone, its readership increased by 61%. As President Mattarella emphasized:

"Il Foglio rightly maintains its original identity and engages daily with a reality that has many facets and interpretative keys. Striving to go beyond the news requires quality, intellectual honesty, vision, and openness to free discussion."

Il Foglio Timeline

• 1996, January 30 - The first issue of Il Foglio is published in Italy
• 1996, July - Launch of the independent supplement “Il Foglio dei Foglio”
• 1997 - The newspaper becomes the official organ of the Convention for Justice
• 1997, September 11 - Closure of the Rome office
• 2000, January - The newspaper begins publishing on Sundays
• 2000, July - Introduction of color in titles and headers
• 2004–2006 - Co-organizes debates under the theme “Fratello embrione, sorella verità”
• 2004–2023 - Sole organizer of political, economic, and cultural debates
• 2004, December 28 - Sunday editions are discontinued
• 2006, January - 10th anniversary with minor design changes
• 2007 - Launch of the “Il Foglio del Mobile” supplement
• 2007, December 19 - Campaign against abortion begins
• 2008, April - Sunday editions are reinstated
• 2010 - First special issues published
• 2011, February 12 - Demonstration “Against Hypocritical Neo-Puritanism”
• 2013, June 25 - Demonstration “We Are All Prostitutes: No to Puritanical Injustice”
• 2014, February 11 - Open letter to Pope Francis urging resistance to pressure over Church pedophilia
• 2014, July 30 - Vigil for Israel and persecuted Christians
• 2015, May - Launch of weekend editions
• 2016–2019 - Weekly supplements added to the main edition
• 2016, October 19 - Demonstration against UNESCO resolution
• 2016, December - Sorgente Group becomes the sole owner of Foglio Edizioni
• 2017, January - Co-organizer of the annual Festival of Culture and Freedom
• 2017, October 21–22 - The first “Il Foglio-Festa dell’Ottimismo”
• 2019 - First “Festival dell’Innovazione” (Innovation Festival)
• 2019, January - Launch of email newsletters with article links and themed bulletins
• 2020, July 20 - Podcast section launched
• 2021, January - 25th-anniversary celebrations
• 2023, March - AI-generated articles introduced
• 2023, October 10 - Torchlight procession in solidarity with Israel

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