ABSTRACT: Concise information on the editorial project for "1994 - The Radical newspaper" and its characteristics.

(LA STAMPA, 22 October 1993)

Rome. The radical party is at it again, and hopes to gather "at least 30 or 40.000 members to survive". Compared to the traditional membership campaigns of these last years, it is trying new solutions, relaunching - twenty years later - the "Radical Newspaper". It's called "1994" (circulation: 50.000) and it is the heir of "Liberazione", a newspaper which in 1974 accompanied the referendum on divorce and its victory. "We will carry to the very end of our physical, mental and financial resources", says Emma Bonino. The newspaper will serve the purpose of documenting our current campaigns: the one for the institution of an international tribunal in ex-Yugoslavia, for the abolition of the death penalty, for the legalization of drugs (decided also by Clinton, but in Italy everyone pretended not to notice), for the environment. These are subjects which, at a time in which the country is swept by a huge corruption scandal, there is the uttermost indifference by most of the media.

The characteristics of "1994" will be that of consisting mostly of photos from the radical archive and from the archives of "photographer friends who have documented the country's political life". Moreover, some of Italy's prime advertisement experts, from Toscani, Sanna, Pirella, Staino, Bucchi, will "promote" the radical party as if it were a consumer product. Thus, a newspaper that talks by images, which relies on their evocative power, also with the purpose of becoming the testimonial of the new membership campaign. "I dare any Italian party to survive with less than 10 billion a year", says Emma Bonino.

What about the twelve billion lire raised with last year's hammering campaign? "Six have been used to pay off the party's debts, and the remaining six to survive in these months. I will give a more detailed account of how they have been spent on Monday, during the press conference to illustrate the new newspaper".

Translator's notes

BONINO EMMA. (Bra 1948). President of the Radical Party, former member of the European Parliament, as of 1976 member of the Italian Parliament. Among the promoters of the CISA (Information Centre on Sterilization and Abortion) and active militant in the campaign against clandestine abortion. She was tried and acquitted in Florence. Participated in the conduction, on a national and international scale, of the campaign on World Hunger. Among the founding members of "Food and Disarmament International", promoted the circulation of the Manifesto of Nobel Laureates.