Italian Periodical Press Union
The Italian Periodical Press Union (USPI; Italian: Unione Stampa Periodica Italiana) is an association of publishers founded in 1953 to represent the interests of cultural and scientific periodical press in Italy.
History
Origins and early years
The evolution of publishing and journalistic associations in Italy began with the founding of the Associazione della Stampa Periodica Italiana (ASPI) in 1877. Initially, the association aimed to resolve moral disputes between publishers and journalists and focused on documenting Italian periodicals.
During the fascist regime, press associations were suppressed and subjected to government control. In the post-war period, associations were re-established.
USPI was founded in 1953 on the initiative of Gianni Robert. Like ASPI, it initially included both publishers and journalists.
Expansion and advocacy (1960s–1980s)
During the 1960s and 1970s, under the leadership of Giovanni Terranova, USPI expanded its membership to include local periodicals and began offering training and editorial consulting services to members.
Gian Domenico Zuccalà, Secretary General from 1972 and President from 1998, strengthened USPI's institutional relations and advocated for recognition of the periodical press sector. During this period, USPI worked to obtain a favorable tax regime and postal concessions for periodicals, culminating in Law No. 172/1975, which established state benefits for smaller publishers. However, the law's application revealed shortcomings requiring further regulatory intervention.
The introduction of the Regions in the 1970s opened a new phase for local publishing, and USPI promoted an active role for the Regions in supporting regional press.
In 1987, USPI was redefined as a publishers' union, focusing on the business dimension of its members. The association extended its representation to medium-large publishers while maintaining an orientation toward independent publishing.
USPI participated in the drafting of Law No. 416/1981, which was conceived to support newspapers but also extended to periodicals, though with fewer resources and benefits. The law brought financial contributions but was criticized for excessive bureaucracy and insufficient attention to smaller periodicals.
During the 1980s, USPI focused on improving the economic conditions of smaller publishing and supported the adoption of new digital technologies to facilitate editorial production.
Technological change and professional development (1980s–1990s)
From the mid-1980s, Italian medium-small publishing underwent significant changes due to technological and social transformations and shifting reader preferences. The digital revolution and the spread of personal computers made it difficult for small publishers to compete with large publishing groups. According to historian Giancarlo Cinoglossi, the traditional figure of the "do-it-yourself" publisher disappeared, with many periodicals forced to close; only publishers who invested in modernization and professionalization survived.
USPI addressed these challenges in its congresses, highlighting the need for innovation and promoting specialization and territorial links as strategies for smaller periodical press. From 1988, USPI established summer internships in collaboration with the University of Urbino, providing skills in sociology of communication, publishing law, and business management.
Challenges in funding and distribution (1990s)
In the 1990s, public funding was directed toward periodicals such as party newspapers and cooperatives. USPI opposed this approach, advocating for a support system less tied to political influence.
The XIII USPI Congress of 1991 highlighted the urgency of reforming postal concessions for medium-small publishing and criticized proposals that primarily favored large publishers.
Distribution remained a strategic issue throughout the 1990s, with USPI maintaining dialogue with Poste Italiane to secure efficient services at sustainable costs. USPI had previously obtained a 50% reduction in postal rates in 1981, but threats of postal reforms in the 1990s put smaller publishers at risk.
USPI negotiated contracts with CONFAPI to regulate labor relations in a more structured manner, as small publishers increasingly preferred freelance collaborators to avoid the costs of the FIEG Contract.
Digital transformation (late 1990s–2000s)
Periodical publishing embraced the Internet as a new opportunity in the 1990s, though initial efforts to translate print content into interactive digital formats encountered difficulties. Scholars such as Paolo Murialdi have noted that the true potential of the web lay in interactivity, which transformed readers from passive consumers into active participants.
At the XV USPI Congress in 1996, lawyer Giuseppe Corasaniti urged publishers to invest in multimedia strategies. Mario Morcellini, professor emeritus at the Sapienza University of Rome, at the 1999 Congress highlighted the communicative specificity of periodicals, particularly local and specialized ones, in establishing stronger ties with readers.
From the late 1990s, many periodicals moved online, often without print equivalents. In 2002, USPI began formally representing electronic periodicals.
In 1999, following the death of Gian Domenico Zuccalà, Francesco Saverio Vetere became Secretary General alongside Mario Negri as President. This leadership transition marked a period of renewal focused on representing the needs of small publishers. Vetere adopted a strategy based on pluralism and political dialogue, highlighting the economic and cultural value of medium-small publishing.
Law No. 62/2001 marked an important reform that included numerous USPI proposals, such as the definition of "editorial product" to include online periodicals, simplification of access to subsidized credit, and support for press of high cultural value. Vetere also worked to obtain extensions on reduced postal rates and to counter postal reforms that would have penalized small periodicals.
Internal reorganization and services expansion
With the relaunch of USPI, Vetere initiated an internal reorganization to transform the Union into a more professional structure. Each official was assigned to a specific sector, improving the management of publishing issues from distribution to legal and contractual matters. Relationships were established with external consultants specializing in publishing and labor law.
The offices were computerized and the USPI website became a reference point for members, offering free consultations in various areas including editorial marketing and copyright. USPI increased services for its members, evidenced by a rise in consultations from 253 to 450 monthly between 2001 and 2002. The 12th edition of the "Guida della Stampa Periodica Italiana" (Guide to the Italian Periodical Press) was updated and enriched. USPI membership grew through annual registration campaigns, with 400 new periodicals enrolled in 2000. The "USPI Library" and a new auditorium for meetings and conferences were inaugurated.
In 2000, USPI organized a Forum in Frascati to discuss the future of local publishing in the era of the Internet, addressing challenges and opportunities of the digital revolution. The debate revealed cautious interest from small publishers, who feared the costs and risks associated with the digital transition.
In 2002, USPI signed a memorandum of understanding with FUSIE (Federazione Unitaria Stampa Italiana all'Estero - Unitary Federation of Italian Press Abroad) to create the "Coordinamento mondiale della Stampa Periodica Italiana" (World Coordination of the Italian Periodical Press), aimed at supporting Italian press abroad and improving communication for Italian emigrant communities.
Recent developments (2010s–present)
In the 2010s and 2020s, the Italian publishing sector underwent further transformations influenced by the digital era, regulatory changes, and economic challenges.
USPI recognized the growing importance of online publishing in the early 2000s. Although digital periodicals were not yet on par with traditional journalistic products, it was evident that the future of information would be influenced by the web. USPI advocated for regulations to protect and support new digital media, including financial contributions to promote quality and accessibility of information.
USPI decided to include online periodicals within the association, collaborating with new publishers to understand the dynamics of the digital world. With the advent of blogs, social platforms, and podcasts with journalistic content not subject to registration, USPI recognized the need to represent these new forms of information.
2023 National Collective Bargaining Agreement
In February 2023, USPI and FIGEC CISAL (Federazione Italiana Giornalismo, Editoria e Comunicazione - Italian Federation of Journalism, Publishing and Communication) signed a new National Collective Bargaining Agreement for journalists.
The agreement introduced salary increases of over 5% with retroactive effect from 1 January 2023. The CCNL introduced new recognized professional figures including editor-in-chief, correspondent, Vatican expert, and roles related to digital media and multimedia platforms. It also expanded worker protections including contributions for complementary pensions, free supplementary health insurance via ENBIC, and provisions for professional development. The agreement includes provisions regarding religious holidays of faiths other than Catholicism and, for the first time, Easter Sunday was included among recognized holidays.
Legislative challenges and public funding
Italian publishing has contended with regulatory changes affecting public support for the sector. Law No. 145/2018, the 2019 Budget Law promoted by former Undersecretary for Information and Publishing Vito Crimi, provided for the progressive elimination of public subsidies to publishing over four years. The provision included a gradual decrease in funding until total suppression.
Despite changes in officials at the Department for Information and Publishing, the provision has not been repealed; only postponements have been granted to delay its implementation. This situation has created uncertainty in the sector, as public subsidies represent a fundamental source of support, especially for medium-small publishing entities.
Since 2021, USPI has been registered in the EU Transparency Register, a database of interest groups whose aim is to influence the legislative and policy-making process of European institutions.
Artificial Intelligence and future prospects
The publishing sector faces new challenges related to technological innovation, particularly artificial intelligence. AI is emerging as a factor that could further transform the way information is produced and distributed. USPI promotes a proactive approach aimed at seizing opportunities offered by AI while integrating new technologies in a way that enriches information without sacrificing quality.