Permanent Observer on Youth and Publishing

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Our MissiOn

BeyOnd the First ten years

Our all ies

Teachers

Publishing groups

Banking foundations

Socially accountable companies

Our init iat ives

The Newspaper in the Classroom

The Newspaper on Campus

Contest initiatives

Special initiatives

events

Growing between the lines

Young Readers, New Citizens

Key Meetings

5 lectures in search of an author

the digital evOlutiOn

osservatorionline.it and the social networks

ilquotidianoinclasse.it and

scuolachefarete.it

research studies

the Osser vatOriO PerManente

giOvani-editOri and state inst itut iOns

Visits to the Quirinale (2005 and 2007)

The Constitution notebook

The Citizen’s notebooks

Papal audience

internatiOnal PrOjects

S U M M A RY2

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To help today’s youth become the citi-

zens of tomorrow, developing through

the critical reading and comparison of

different newspapers that independent

thinking that sets men free.

Our MissiOn

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BeyOnd the First ten years

The Osservatorio Permanente Giovani-Editori (the Perma-

nent Observatory on Youth and Publishers) is an organiza-

tion created in June 2000 with an ambitious mission: to

help today’s youth become the citizens of tomorrow

through the critical reading and comparison of different

newspapers.

A decisive factor in the creation of the Osservatorio was aware-

ness of an alarming trend: from 1975 to 2000, the number of

Italian newspaper buyers and readers dropped by one million.

Convinced that the reading of newspapers is essential in the

shaping of a country’s public opinion and critical conscience

and vital to ensuring and maintaining a civil and democratic

society, Andrea Ceccherini, President of the Florence-based

movement Progetto Città, made a public appeal to all Ita-

lian publishers, without prejudices or preferences.

The first to respond were two large publishing groups:

RCS, which publishes the Corriere della Sera, and Poligra-

fici Editoriale, whose publications include La Nazione, Il

Resto del Carlino and Il Giorno. After just two years, in

March 2002, these were joined by Il Sole 24 ORE, and in re-

cent years by some of the most prestigious local newspapers

like L’Unione Sarda, L’Adige, Il Tempo, La Gazzetta del Sud,

L’Arena, Il Giornale di Vicenza, Bresciaoggi, La Stampa, La

Gazzetta di Parma, Il Gazzettino and by L’Osservatore Roma-

no and La Gazzetta dello Sport. All together, these publishing

groups and newspapers are now part of the Osservatorio’s fa-

mily and participate in the initiatives it promotes.

The purpose of the Osservatorio Permanente Giovani-Editori is

to bring young people closer to the world of newspapers.

Young people who do not read miss out on the cultural

and educational opportunities and exposure to ideas and

in turn, publishers failing to reach out to young readers,

are destined to disappear.

In short, this is the history of an organization whose first

ten years have been dedicated to engaging young people

to build a better future for this country.

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www.twitter.com/opge

“Warmest congratulations to the Osservatorio Permanente Giovani-

Editori which intends to relaunch civic education classes in schools”.

Giorgio Napolitano, President of the Italian Republic

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Our all ies

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teachers

The Osservatorio Permanente Giovani-Editori found its first

ally in the Italian teaching body, which joined in tackling the

challenge of educating young people in the critical reading of

newspapers and becoming better citizens.

Educators are driving force behind “The Newspaper in the

Classroom” initiative, and are the main shareholders of

this small but powerful, civic and social undertaking.

It is above all thanks to teachers’ passion and hard work that,

each week, students all over Italy can participate in a Civic

Education class based on the reading and comparison of dif-

ferent newspapers.

For teachers, the Osservatorio organizes customized training

events (one-day workshops and discussions with authoritati-

ve Italian journalists and University professors), as well as an

annual training program (worksheets and hands-on work ex-

perience with newspapers): essential tools to convey to high-

school students the critical role of newspapers.

The majority shareholders of this civil and social undertaking

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Our all ies

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PuBl ishing grOuPs

Publishing groups play a pioneering role in the common com-

mitment to the development of younger generations.

Over the years, the Organization has always opened its doors to

all Italian newspapers: the Osservatorio is the home to all

publishers who believe in this civil and social challenge.

All the publishing groups, which have joined the Osservatorio

Permanente Giovani-Editori, are seriously committed to con-

tribute to the initiatives and to educate youngsters to become

aware and critical citizens.

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Subscribers to the initiatives of the Osservatorio Permanente Giovani-Editori:

i l cOrriere della sera

il sOle 24 Orela naziOne

il giOrnO

il restO del carl inO

l’uniOne sarda

l’adige

il teMPO

la gazzetta del sud

l’arena

il giOrnale di vicenza

BresciaOggi

la staMPa

la gazzetta di ParMa

il gazzett inO

la gazzetta dellO sPOrt l’Osser vatOre rOManO

Our all ies

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Our all ies

Giuseppe Guzzetti (President , Acri)

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FOundatiOns OF Banking Origin

The Italian banking foundations network has been actively

cooperating with the Osservatorio Permanente Giovani-Editori

for several years, both in implementing “The Newspaper in the

Classroom” project, sponsored by various foundations on a local

basis, and also for the “Young Readers, New Citizens” meeting.

These have also sponsored some specific initiatives (e.g. the

“Citizen’s Notebook”) that the Osservatorio promotes toge-

ther with ACRI, an association that collectively represents

foundations of banking origin. Different in size and geogra-

phic location, these private and independent non-profit

entities operate exclusively for socially useful purposes and

for the promotion of cultural, civic and economic develop-

ment within their jurisdictions.

The Osservatorio and ACRI share a strong commitment

to the younger generations development as active mem-

bers of society.

Together, they intend to contribute to the raising of young peo-

ple’s awareness and to encourage them to participate more ac-

tively in society’s community life.

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sOcially accOuntaBle cOMPanies

In recent years, a significant contribution to the objectives pur-

sued by the Osservatorio Permanente Giovani-Editori has come

from the alliance with socially accountable large corporations,

which share the sane values and have become partners in pro-

moting a series of special initiatives.

In the present historical, economic and social context, the fact

that a company adopts a socially accountable behaviour and

decides to limit its business objectives to embrace the civil and

social objectives of an organization like the Osservatorio, sheds

light on the powerful and sound convictions that led to the cre-

ation of this project in June 2000.

Large companies which have partnered with us during the years

include Enel, Eni, Intesa Sanpaolo, Telecom Italia, and Wind.

These key allies have promoted, together with the Osservatorio,

specific initiatives aimed at supporting students along the path

of their civic education.

To accompany students

on their path to civic responsibility

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Our all ies

“Commendable initiatives like “The Newspaper in the Classroom”

go in the right direction. I think we should try to extend them to

other European countries”.

Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, President Emeritus of the Italian Republic

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Our init iat ives

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the newsPaPer in the classrOOM

“The Newspaper in the Classroom” brings several major

Italian newspapers to classrooms for comparison and is

the tool for a modern, day-by-day civic education lesson.

Promoted by the Osservatorio in September 2000, the project

has achieved a leading position among the initiatives inten-

ded to encourage youngsters to read newspapers in the edu-

cational arena.

This leadership is both quantitative, with over 2,001,080 stu-

dents and 43,859 teachers take part in the project, and qua-

litative, with a comprehensive offering organized around three

focuses: classroom lessons, training and research.

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Our init iat ives

Classroom lessons, training and research

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Classroom lessons

During “The Newspaper in the Classroom” initiative, all throu-

ghout the school year, students and teachers involved in the

project receive copies of several newspapers, free of charge,

via different delivery methods, as required by each teacher.

Each class subscribing to the initiative receives copies of Cor-

riere della Sera, Italy’s top opinion newspaper; Il Sole 24 ORE,

leading economics newspaper in Europe, in the case of junior

and senior high-school classes, and copies of a prestigious local

newspaper to be selected from: Il Giorno, La Nazione, Il Resto del

Carlino, La Stampa, L’Unione Sarda, Il Tempo, L’Adige, la Gazzetta

del Sud, Bresciaoggi, Il Giornale di Vicenza, L’Arena, Gazzetta di

Parma, Il Gazzettino and, as part of targeted contest initiatives,

La Gazzetta dello Sport and L’Osservatore Romano.

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Evolution of the advertising campaigns for “The Newspaper in the Classroom” project .


Our init iat ives

I believe that “The Newspaper in the Classroom” is a very important

initiative, in the United States we do not have a similar project”.

Richard Parsons, President Citigroup

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Training

The teachers in charge of the project are the recipients of specific trai-

ning initiatives promoted by the Osservatorio, based on authoritative

scientific contributions and, designed to provide teachers with in-

sights and suggestions for their classroom work with newspapers.

In particular, each teacher receives free of charge, at his/her

school, the training book containing texts and interviews

with key representatives of the Italian and international

press, as well as worksheets and learning paths developed by a

group of trainers who simulate newspaper reading lessons based

on real articles.

The Osservatorio also promotes local training events for the tea-

chers involved in the project – opportunities for them to compare

notes on their teaching experiences and to meet highly qua-

lified speakers.

Another resource offered to participating teachers is an online tea-

cher support service, available throughout the school year.

During the 2010/2011 school year, the Osservatorio has carried

out a thorough revision of its training offer, via the creation of five

special events entitled “5 lessons in search of an author. Appoin-

tments with daily unconventional thinking”: a series of meetings

with respected journalists (including names like Beppe Severgnini,

Massimo Gramellini, Aldo Cazzullo, Gian Antonio Stella and Vittori-

no Andreoli) who stand in front of the class for a day to deliver a

newspaper reading lesson.

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Dedicated to teachers: “ The Newspaper in the Classroom” library.

Research

The Osservatorio uses the services of GfK Eurisko, a leading

research institute, to monitor the progress of its initiatives

on an ongoing basis.

GfK Eurisko experts have been supporting Osservatorio activi-

ties for several years. In particular, as part of “The Newspaper in

the Classroom” project, they are in charge of the research activi-

ties required to track the project, measure participant satisfac-

tion levels, understand the needs of the students and teachers

involved, and monitor the editorial as well as the civil and social

benefits produced by the initiative.

Our init iat ives

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the newsPaPer On caMPus

To capitalize on the results achieved through “The Newspaper in

the Classroom” project, the Osservatorio has devised a plan to conti-

nue supporting young people after they leave high school.

This determination led to the creation, in February 2007, of “The

Newspaper on Campus” project for Italian universities.

Considering the positive response of faculty during the first months of

the test, a large trial has been launched with the participation of over

150 teachers and virtually all CRUI member Universities (Conferenza

dei Rettori delle Università Italiane: Conference of Italian University

Chancellors) every year, with full didactic and methodological inde-

pendence. The trial facilitated a well structured project, organized into

four different disciplinary areas (Communication, Law, Education and

Economics). The Osservatorio Permanente Giovani-Editori has

proposed an agreement offering interested teachers an innovative

project by providing them with several leading Italian newspapers in

exchange for their commitment to integrate them in their syllabus,

thus showing students how newspapers can highlight the relevance

of their study material.

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The latest editions of the initiative have seen the involvement

of a growing number of teachers and universities. The project’s

format, now well-tested and established, has remained virtual-

ly unchanged and has allowed participating teachers to rely on

an additional tool that helps them link each subject matter to

current events and to disseminate critical knowledge among

young college students.

Our init iat ives

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The Contests area of the Osservatorio Permanente

Giovani-Editori is a “workshop” for the education of the

citizens of tomorrow – active, responsible, and self-deter-

mined members of a mature, democratic society.

This area is conceived as a single integrated, multidisci-

plinary and multi-dimensional civic education project,

where each contest – although carried out in different do-

mains – contributes to the circulation of ideas and values

that are affirmed in their highest form in the Constitutional

Charter. The purpose of the contests is to promote the sha-

ring of ideas and values, and directs the young towards soli-

darity, equality, democracy, participation and mutual respect

in everyday life.

Civil and social participation is the central of the contest’ stu-

dies, topics and discussions, including the choice of the means

and forms of communication, from books to newspapers.

cOntest init iat ives

The Osservatorio’s underlying philosophy has always been to

favour media as one of the most suitable tools to establish lin-

ks between rights and duties, justice and democracy, whether

through independent initiatives or through the education system.

The concept of civic education is outlined through a series

of different contest initiatives, and can therefore be viewed as

a platform for different areas of education:

Our paths to civic education

learning aBOut reading

learning aBOut legal ity

learning aBOut envirOnMent

learning thrOugh deBate

learning aBOut Fair Play

learning aBOut Free chOices and ideas and aBOut Free thinking

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Our init iat ives

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Fully in line with the Culture of Accountability theme selected

as founding principle of the Contests area, a series of special

initiatives, have been developed by the Osservatorio

These projects are carried out with the support of numerous

socially accountable partners and companies, and are

aimed at accompanying the students along their civic

education path.

The distinctive aspect of these initiatives is that they have no

competitive purposes and are aimed first and foremost at the

teachers. Like those discussed above, these projects are consist

of a set of teaching materials each dedicated to an individual

sPecial init iat ives

theme and specific education: ranging from financial culture to

environmental sustainability, from digital education to the ma-

nagement of diverse opinions.

These initiatives have a particular focus on technologies and

Internet. By its very nature, Internet allows flexible, open and

democratic interaction, offering opportunities for socializing,

engaging and, accessing information that traditionally, would

have been less readily available.

This is why it is important to achieve an active and responsi-

ble civic education also through new cultures that are forcefully

emerging on the world arena.

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Mario Monti, Prime Minister of I taly

Our init iat ives

“The Newspaper in the Classroom” will give us free and

independent-thinking young people”.

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events

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grOwing Between the lines

Traditionally held in Borgo La Bagnaia, just outside Siena, in

Tuscany, The “Growing between the lines”, meeting promoted

by the Osservatorio Permanente Giovani-Editori gathers young

students, the world of Italian and international publishing,

and Italian State institutions for fruitful discussions.

“Growing between the lines” is a unique opportunity, within the

Italian communication scene, to gather all the top names in print

and broadcast journalism, as well as authoritative representati-

ves of State institutions and students around the same table, to

discuss the relationship between young people and the

news media. The objective of the meeting is to bounce off ide-

as on the role of the media as a tool for the development, in

Italy’s younger generations, of strong critical thinking essential

to ensure civil and democratic growth in our country.

The Meeting intensive program includes round table discussions

and debates facilitated by some of the foremost Italian journa-

lists, with the participation of publishers, editors and directors of

the largest national and international publishing groups, and a

significant representation of more than 2,000,000 students par-

ticipating in “The Newspaper in the Classroom” project.

Notable guests who have participated in the meeting over the

years are: Joaquin Navarro Valls, Giulio Andreotti, Franco Frattini,

Gianfranco Fini, Giulio Tremonti, Massimo D’Alema, Walter Vel-

troni, and Matteo Renzi and numerous other important names

in the national and international arena , like James Murdoch, Jeff

Bewkes, Marcus Brauchli, Richard Parsons, Tom Curley and Leo-

nard Downie Jr; prestigious Italian editors and journalists, like

Ferruccio de Bortoli, Mario Calabresi, Massimo Gramellini, Beppe

Severgnini, Gianni Riotta and Enrico Mentana; and some of the

key players of our times like Monsignor Gianfranco Ravasi, John

Elkann, Giovanni Bazoli, Corrado Passera, Federico Ghizzoni, Fa-

brizio Palenzona, Diego Della Valle and many other guests.

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grOwing Between the lines

Jef f Bewkes, President Time Warner


events

“The Newspaper in the Classroom” is a leading project in Europe for

youngsters and Publishers, I would like to have one in the US as well”.

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Peter Kann, 1972 Pulitzer Prize winning journalist.


From left to right , top: Diego Della Valle (President , Tod’s) , Ferruccio de Bortoli (Editor in Chief, Corriere della Sera), Roberto Napoletano (Editor in Chief, Il Sole 24 ORE); Centre: Maria Latella (Editor in Chief, A), Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi (President of the Pontifical Council for Culture), Mario Calabresi (Editor in Chief, La Stampa); Bottom: Enrico Mentana (Editor in Chief, La7 News), Gianni Riotta (journalist) , Fedele Confalonieri (President , Mediaset).

“I consider myself lucky to be part of this project.

Young people will only benefit from it “.

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gli eventi

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events

In the previous page, from left to right, top: Corrado Passera (Minister of Economic Development, Infrastructure and Tran-sport), Franco Frattini (Member of the Italian Parliament); Centre: Fabrizio Palenzona (Vicepresident, UniCredit), Federico Ghizzoni (Managing director, UniCredit) Giuseppe Mussari (President , Mps e Abi); ; Bottom: Matteo Renzi (Mayor of Florence), Giulio Andreotti (Senator for life).

In this page, from left to right: Jeff Bewkes (President and CEO, Time Warner), James Murdoch (President and CEO, News Corporation International), Andrea Ceccherini (President, Osservatorio Permanente Giovani-Editori) and Marcus Brauchli (Editor in Chief, The Washington Post).

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events

Young students, Publishers and Italian Institutions meet

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yOung readers, new cit izens

“Young Readers, New Citizens” is a convention promoted by

the Osservatorio Permanente Giovani-Editori and Acri (the asso-

ciation of Savings Banks and Banking Foundations).

The convention is an opportunity for reflection and discussion on

young people’s civic education, and the training of futu-

re leaders on social inclusion and integration. Debate on these

themes has been open to all of the Osservatorio’s historical allies:

youngsters, representatives of schools and academia, publishers of

the different media, and key names in the world of culture and

State institutions of this Country.

Some of the country’s highest officials – Presidents of Banking

Foundations, Presidents and editors of major national newspapers -

have participated in the initiative in the last few years.

Today, the Convention is an established event to share ex-

periences, ideas, projects and strategies with a view to de-

veloping a sense of responsibility among Italian publishers

and media regarding the education of young people and the

citizens of tomorrow.


“It is a great project and it is important that it should be aimed at young pe-

ople: this will help them to become active citizens who are able to choose.”

Marcus Brauchli, Editor in Chief The Washington Post

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From left to right:Giulio Tremonti (Member of the Italian Parliament), Lilli Gruber (journalist, LA7) e Massimo D’Alema (Member of Parliament).

events

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key Meetings

Since 2003, the Osservatorio Permanente Giovani-Editori has

started to promote a series of key meetings where the key

speakers were publishers and editors of Italian and interna-

tional daily newspapers, and authoritative representatives of

the country’s economy and government, who have had frank

discussions with representatives of students participating in

“The Newspaper in the Classroom” project.

Some of the key figures who participated in these meetings

were John Elkann, Peter Kann, Giovanni Bazoli, Cesare

Geronzi, Mario Monti, Richard Parsons, Luca Cordero di

Montezemolo, Joaquin Navarro-Valls, David Thorne and

many other prestigious guests.

These events are special opportunities to exchange opinions

on the importance of reading newspapers in school and under-

standing how the use of newspapers contributes to arousing the

curiosity of students and to shaping their critical conscience.

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eventsevents

From left to right, top: John Elkann (President, La Stam-pa), Giovanni Bazoli (Chairman of the Supervisory Board, In-tesa Sanpaolo) and Marco Tron-chetti Provera (President, Pirelli);

Bottom: Joaquin Navarro Valls (former Spokesman to Pope John Paul II), Andrea Ceccherini with Mario Monti (Prime Minister of Italy), Luca Cordero di Monte-zemolo (President, Ferrari S.p.A.) and Richard Parsons (President, Citigroup).

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From left to right:

Maestri Andrea Bocelli, Giovanni Allevi, Claudio Baglioni e Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus footballer )

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events

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5 lessOns in search OF an authOr

Starting in the 2010/2011 school year, the Osservatorio Per-

manente Giovani-Editori promoted five new training events of

great prestige, originality and quality.

“5 lessons in search of an author. Appointments with

daily unconventional thinking” is the title given to the me-

etings, during which some of the most prestigious names in

Italian journalism (Beppe Severgnini, Massimo Gramellini, Aldo

Cazzullo, Gian Antonio Stella and Vittorino Andreoli), together

with 250 teachers, take turns to speak to the class at the sound

of the bell, acting as teachers for one hour and delivering a real

impromptu lesson with “The Newspaper in the Classroom”.

Only a limited number of teachers registered in “The Newspaper in

the Classroom” project who have reserved online or by cal-

ling the dedicated call centre can participate in each of the

five lessons.

Bottom from left to right:Gian Antonio Stella e Aldo Cazzullo (Corriere della Sera editorial writers)

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events

Bottom from left to right:Gian Antonio Stella e Aldo Cazzullo (Corriere della Sera editorial writers)

Top from left to right:Massimo Gramellini (Deputy Editor, La Stampa) and Beppe Severgnini ((journalist, Corriere della Sera)

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Osser vatOriOnline. it and the sOcial netwOrk

As required by the web 2.0 universe, the Osservatorio Perma-

nente Giovani-Editori’s offering is distributed among different

platforms and virtual rooms.

The first one we want to mention is of course our official websi-

te, osservatorionline.it: a space dedicated to the presentation

of all the Organization’s activities, our history, and a daily update

with news, reports, videos and research studies.

A great deal of activity takes place on our Twitter account, cre-

ated during the 2009 edition of the “Growing between the lines”

meeting to communicate information on the meeting and the

views expressed by the guests. The Osservatorio’s Twitter pro-

file has been revamped, and can serve as a constant reference

point in the world of information and its role in young people’s

lives.

On Facebook – another must have – the Osservatorio has a

very special account: a sort of online mascot of the Osservatorio

that promotes and moderates all its initiatives.

We also have a YouTube channel that features an increasing

number of videos of all our promoted initiatives and contests,

and of the research studies conducted by the Osservatorio.

But the great news of the last few seasons is the web projects

dedicated to students and teachers:

• scuolachefarete.it, the digital education and school in-

formation portal available to teachers.

The “Scuola che fa rete” project was created to provide teachers

participating in “The Newspaper in the Classroom” initiative and,

in general, any Italian teacher, with the opportunity to use a new

information didactic tool to share news and experience on the

world of schools and to interact as a community.

• ilquotidianoinclasse.it, a project for Italian high-school

students, promoted in cooperation with the websites of

Corriere della Sera, Il Sole 24 ORE and Quotidiano.net.

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The project, called ilquotidianoinclasse.it represents, also lite-

rally, the natural evolution of “The Newspaper in the Clas-

sroom” hard copy project, which has for years, brought different

newspapers to the classrooms for students to read and compare.

The ilquotidianoinclasse.it portal is a solution that allows over

2,000,000 students to express the opinions they have formed in

class, with the help of their teachers, and to compare them against

those of others. Every Monday morning, three journalists post a to-

pic on their blog: the students, divided into editorial staffs, conduct

investigations in the form of texts, photos and videos, and explain

their opinions on the topic.

The experience has gone viral on the web, and an increasing

number of students and teachers are getting involved and fin-

ding it exciting.

the digital evOlutiOnthe digital evOlutiOn

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Digital evolution: to express an opinion

and compare it with that of others altri

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research studies

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The Osservatorio uses the services of GfK Eurisko, a leading

research institute, tomonitor the progress of its initiatives

on an ongoing basis.

GfK Eurisko experts have been following up on Osservatorio

activities for several years. In particular, as part of “The New-

spaper in the Classroom” project, they are in charge of the re-

search activities required to obtain feedback for the success of

the project.

In order to allow all Italian newspapers to take steps that will

bring them closer to the youth, the Osservatorio asks each stu-

dent and teacher participating in the project how they rate

today’s newspapers and what they would like tomorrow’s

newspapers to be like.

In the Osservatorio’s website osservatorionline.it, users will

find all the research studies promoted over the more than ten

years of the Organization’s life, with analyses describing the

publishers and the civil and social benefits produced

research studies

by the initiatives.

With regards to publisher’s benefits, the studies analyze stu-

dents’ satisfaction from reading a newspaper before and after

participating in the project. The level of satisfaction is signi-

ficantly higher for students who have experienced newspaper

reading in the classroom.

With regards to the civil and social benefits, the studies evalua-

te how the participating students have a greater propensity for

voting and show greater sensitivity for and participation in the

community’s life.

These very positive data are confirmed and supported by Audi-

press annual surveys, which have shown an increase in number

and loyalty of newspaper readership in the 18-24 age range;

this age bracket immediately follows the time when youngsters

are exposed to “The Newspaper in the Classroom” initiative.

This means that reading newspapers is a habit and, like all good

habits, should be acquired early in life.

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Visit us at www.osservatorionline.it and

click “Study and Research”:

you can download all available research

carried out from 2000 unti l today.

research studies

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the OsservatOriO and state institutiOns

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In the last few years the Osservatorio Permanente Giovani-Edi-

tori has had the honour of being received twice by the President

of the Republic of Italy.

In 2005, the then-President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi invited the

President of the Osservatorio Permanente Giovani-Editori, An-

drea Ceccherini, to recognize the important work done by “The

Newspaper in the Classroom” initiative.

Two years later, in December 2007, the current President of the

Republic Giorgio Napolitano reiterated his appreciation for

the Osservatorio’s activities by receiving its President Cecche-

rini and publicly praising the strongly educational role of “The

Newspaper in the Classroom” project.

The visit to President Napolitano was also a special opportunity

to present the “Constitution Notebook”, a tool available to Italian

students to improve their knowledge of the Italian Constitution.

The success of the “Constitution Notebook”, promoted by the

Osservatorio in collaboration with the Presidency of the Italian

Republic, has prompted the creation of a contest named “the Ci-

tizen’s Notebooks” aimed at Italian schools of all levels and pro-

moted by the Osservatorio Permanente Giovani-Editori together

with the Presidency of the Republic, the Ministry of Education

and ACRI.

The objective of this series of publications is to invite young

people to reflect on the 150th anniversary of Italy’s Unity, an

important occasion that offers opportunities for thought and

understanding to all students who, through this contest, work to

analyze and explain its meaning and value.

“The Citizen’s Notebooks” is a collection created for the pur-

pose of providing students and teachers with an additional tool

to revitalize civic education lessons in schools.

the Osser vatOriO and state inst itut iOns

63

March 30 ,2005Andrea Ceccherini received by Carlo Azeglio Ciampi(former President of the Republic)


“Commendable initiatives like “The Newspaper in the Classroom” go in the

right direction - these were the words of former President Azeglio Ciampi -.

I think we should try to extend them to other European countries in order to

create the community of opinions and debates that is vital for the future of a

Europe of citizens as envisaged by the Constitutional Treaty”.

th

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Andrea Ceccherini received by Giorgio Napolitano (President of the Republic)

"My warmest congratulations to the Osservatorio Permanente Giovani-

Editori and to all its promoters and supporters - said President Giorgio

Napolitano -. There is a new, urgent need for civic education in schools:

this is why “The Newspaper in the Classroom" and the "Constitution No-

tebook” are excellent programs, and all of you students and teachers will

certainly benefit from them".

deceMBer 19 ,2007th

65


“The Constitution notebook” and

“The Republic notebook”:

tools designed to promote and revi-

talize Civic Education lessons.

66

Papal audience: to celebrate the tenth

anniversary of the Osservatorio Perma-

nente Giovani-Editori.

nOveMBer 30 , 2011th

the digital evOlutiOnthe Osser vatOriO and state inst itut iOns

67

A moment of the Pope Benedict XVI audience; Andrea Ceccherini with the Steering Commitee of the Osservatorio Permanente Giovani-Editori: Cesare Romiti, Giancarlo Cerutti, Andrea Riffeser Monti and Giuseppe Guzzetti.

November 30, 2011 was a historical date for the Organization:

Andrea Ceccherini, President of the Osservatorio Permanente

Giovani-Editori, accompanied by the members of the Organiza-

tion’s Presidency Office, was received by Pope Benedict XVI in

a private audience at the Vatican.

During the audience, dedicated to celebrating the tenth an-niversary of the Osservatorio Permanente Giovani-Editori, the Pontiff encouraged the President and the Organization to

continue their work aimed at educating the young generations

to read and compare newspapers in order to develop their criti-

cal spirit and civic awareness: this will help them become free

thinkers and independent citizens, and play an active role in a

stronger democracy.

In particular, Pope Benedict XVI emphasized the civil and so-cial value of " The Newspaper in the Classroom” project, for

which he expressed great appreciation.

At the end of the audience, Pope Benedict XVI gave a special

blessing for the work of the Osservatorio and its staff members.

nOveMBer 30 , 2011

69


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In May 2004, during the third edition of the “Growing between

the lines” meeting, the presidents of seven large European pu-

blishing groups signed a Memorandum of Understanding with

the Osservatorio Permanente Giovani-Editori to promote the

reading of daily newspapers among young Europeans and to fo-

ster among the EU youth, the development of a civil conscience

closer to European values.

The agreement was signed by El Mundo, Frankfurter Allge-

meine, Le Monde, The Times, Corriere della Sera, Il Sole 24

ORE and Quotidiano Nazionale.

In November 2004, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Franco

Frattini and the president of the Osservatorio Permanente

Giovani-Editori Andrea Ceccherini presented the project “The

newspaper, a tool to learn about Italian society abroad”

promoted by the Osservatorio in collaboration with the Mi-

nistry of Foreign Affairs.


The project provides for the use of major Italian (Corriere della

Sera, Il Sole 24 ORE and QN) and foreign daily newspapers (Le

Monde in France, The Times in the UK, El Mundo in Spain

and Frankfurter Allgemeine in Germany) to be read in class

by students in Italian Culture Institutes, and Italian and in-

ternational schools with Italian classes, in the UK, France,

Spain and Germany.

The objective of this project has been to promote the know-

ledge of contemporary Italian society among the young genera-

tions of the European Union and to contribute to the shaping of

a European civil conscience.

It was the first international project sponsored by the Osser-

vatorio: the first in a series of initiatives on which the Organi-

zation is working to continue its civic education mission also

outside of Italy.

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A civil conscience closer to European values

72

© 2011 - Osservatorio Permanente Giovani-Editori

Graphic design and layout:

Essedicom – Florence

Photographs:

Riccardo Germogli and Renato Cerisola

Printed in December 2011

Inside front cover and inside back cover: a detail of the work created by artist Romero Britto to

celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Osservatorio Permanente Giovani-Editori

www.osservatorionline.it

Permanent Observer on Youth and Publishing

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Transcript of Permanent Observer on Youth and Publishing