Student-run newspapers thrive in Italian high schools despite challenges

According to CISS, there are more than a hundred active editorial teams for student newspapers throughout Italy, with annual meetings held in Perugia since 2008. These publications take various forms, including blogs, PDFs, podcasts, and print editions. At Bologna's Liceo Scientifico Righi, over 200 students purchase Sottobanco, a 47-page print magazine that has been in circulation since 2022 and won first place in the “Fare informazione a scuola” contest. Giacomo Schilardi, the director, mentions that they have never thought about transitioning to an online format. Meanwhile, Liceo Aristotele's Articolo21 has been operating for eleven years, encountering controversy with “La merda scolastica.” Utopia at Liceo Scientifico Einstein has been publishing since 1993. While some institutions support these initiatives, others impose censorship. Many teams rely on self-funding; Articolo21 sells its copies for €2. Despite receiving awards, ongoing support remains insufficient.