"Dead-Tree Media" Grows in Bologna

(photo by midable)

In what can only be seen as a hopeful sign for dead-tree media readers everywhere (myself one of them), Milan's Il Corriere della Sera launched yesterday 50,000 inserts -- anzi, veri e propri giornali! -- Il Corriere di Bologna. The newspapers will be distributed in conjuction with all Bologna-area Corriere della Sera's. Edited by Armando Nanni (formerly of Il Resto di Carlino) Bologna's new baby is 16 pages, full color and staffed by 14 top-notch bolognesi editors. The Corriere's Milan-based media company (RCS) also includes Il Corriere del Mezzogiorno (published in Naples), Il Corriere del Veneto, Il Corriere di Verona, Il Corriere del Trentino and Il Corriere del Alto-Adige.

Italy's internet usage is not as high as some of its EU neighbors, but it is growing. A recent study by Italy's Aie reported that 46% of Italians use the internet. Italy's internet penetration ranks higher than the Spaniards (43%), but Sweden (75%), Portugal (74%) Denmark (70%), Germany (62%), and the UK (62%) are all considerably higher. Approximately 70% of Americans use the internet, 67% of the Japanese and 10% of the Chinese. (source: Neilsen/NetRatings 2007)