Citynews
An Italian digital publishing group built around a broad network of local news editions and national thematic publications.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Citynews is an Italian digital newspaper group founded in January 2010 by Luca Lani and Fernando Diana as a journalistic start-up. Its operating model combines locally focused online news publications with national and thematic titles, allowing the group to cover metropolitan affairs, regional events, public services, sport, food and agriculture, and broader Italian and European topics. The company expanded rapidly during its first years. In 2011, after the launch of FoggiaToday, Citynews secured an initial investment round of €3 million and began adding existing digital publications, including LeccePrima, RomagnaOggi and AgrigentoNotizie. By the end of that year, the group reportedly had thirty newspapers and a total of fifty-six journalists. Further local launches followed in 2012, including editions serving Monza, Treviso, Venice, Trento and Udine. That year also saw the creation of Today, a national news publication that became one of the group's central brands. Citynews received a second venture-capital investment round of €1.5 million in 2013. It became a joint-stock company and reported reaching a balanced budget in June of that year. The company also introduced iOS and Android applications, extending its publications beyond desktop websites. In 2014, it acquired BrindisiReport and TriestePrima, expanded its presence through offices and focal points in Rome and Milan, and operated on an advertising-only revenue model. Earlier advertising relationships included Fox Network and Fox International Channels. The network continued to grow through new local editions and acquisitions. An Avellino publication was added in 2015, while the group joined Audiweb, the Italian digital audience measurement system. In 2016, the titles were redesigned and Walter Bonanno became general manager of the editorial group. Citynews introduced a new corporate logo in 2017, released mobile applications for its individual newspapers, and acquired or integrated QuiComo, FrosinoneToday and CasertaNews. It also launched EuropaToday to cover European Parliament activity relevant to Italy. By the end of 2017, the group was described as operating forty-seven newspapers with approximately 200 journalists. Later structural descriptions referred to forty-seven local editions alongside national and thematic publications, with an editorial workforce of about 250 people including employees and freelancers. Its portfolio included Today, EuropaToday, AgrifoodToday, RomaToday-related local coverage, and specialist or regional titles such as RomagnaOggi and SportPiacenza. The exact count of editions and workforce can vary by reporting date and by whether freelancers, thematic brands, or separate digital properties are included. Citynews has positioned itself as a high-volume, digitally distributed publisher with strong local reach rather than as a traditional print newspaper house. Audience rankings cited in reference material placed it among Italy's most visited online publishing groups: it was reported as third among national online publications in 2017, second by views in April 2018 with nearly 21 million visitors, fourth in July 2018, and again second by view count in August 2018. These rankings reflect particular measurement periods and should not be treated as a permanent position. The group has primarily relied on digital advertising and has maintained a nationwide Italian editorial footprint.
History
Citynews began in January 2010 when Luca Lani and Fernando Diana established the company as a journalistic start-up in Italy. Rather than launching as a single conventional newspaper, it developed a networked digital-publishing model centered on geographically targeted online news. The approach allowed each edition to address local politics, public affairs, crime, transport, culture, events and community news while sharing a broader commercial and technological structure. The first major expansion came in 2011. Following the opening of FoggiaToday, Citynews obtained an initial investment round of €3 million and began incorporating additional digital publications, including LeccePrima, RomagnaOggi and AgrigentoNotizie. By the end of that year, the group was reported to operate thirty newspapers supported by fifty-six journalists. This early consolidation established the pattern that shaped Citynews: a combination of organic launches and acquisitions or integrations of local online titles. In 2012, the company opened editions serving Monza, Treviso, Venice, Trento and Udine. It also created Today in March, giving the group a national news outlet alongside its local publications. The following year brought a second venture-capital investment round of €1.5 million. Citynews became a joint-stock company and reported reaching a balanced budget in June 2013. During the same period it launched a redesigned mobile presence through applications for iOS and Android devices. Expansion continued in 2014 with the addition of BrindisiReport, based in Brindisi, and TriestePrima, described as a leading online newspaper in Trieste. Citynews also maintained offices or focal points in Rome and Milan. The company was reported to have moved to an advertising-only revenue model by the end of that year. Earlier advertising partnerships included Fox Network and Fox International Channels, illustrating the importance of scaled digital inventory to its business model. The publisher added an Avellino edition in 2015 and joined Audiweb, providing access to an established framework for measuring digital audiences in Italy. In 2016, the group redesigned all of its newspapers and appointed Walter Bonanno as general manager of the editorial group. The redesign and management appointment indicated a shift toward greater consistency across a growing family of local sites while preserving their individual geographic identities. In 2017, Citynews introduced a new logo and released mobile applications for each of its newspapers. The group also acquired or integrated QuiComo, FrosinoneToday and CasertaNews. Its national and thematic ambitions broadened with the launch of EuropaToday, which focused on the European Parliament and European issues relevant to Italian readers. By the end of the year, reference material described Citynews as having forty-seven newspapers and approximately 200 journalists. It was also ranked third among national online publications in a Comscore-based comparison cited by the reference article. Audience measurements in 2018 showed both the scale and volatility of the digital publishing market. In April, Citynews was reported to rank second among national online publications by views, with almost 21 million visitors, ahead of Corriere della Sera and behind la Repubblica. The group was reported in fourth place in July and second again by view count in August. These figures represent snapshots from particular measurement periods rather than a stable long-term ranking. The group later described its structure as comprising forty-seven local editions and five national or thematic editions, with an editorial team of about 250 employees and freelancers. Named publications included Today, EuropaToday, AgrifoodToday, RomagnaOggi and SportPiacenza, alongside many local metropolitan and regional titles. TerniToday was launched in July 2018. Citynews has therefore remained principally an Italian digital news publisher whose distinguishing asset is the breadth of its local network, supported by national brands, mobile distribution and advertising-led monetization.
- 2018
TerniToday launches and audience rankings fluctuate
[1]Citynews launches TerniToday and is reported in varying second-, fourth- and second-place positions in national online audience rankings during the year.
- 2017
Brand refresh and EuropaToday launch
[1]The group introduces a new logo, expands its individual newspaper apps, adds several local titles, and launches EuropaToday.
- 2016
Network redesign and management change
[1]Citynews redesigns its newspapers and appoints Walter Bonanno general manager of the editorial group.
- 2015
Audiweb participation
[1]The group launches an Avellino edition and is accepted into Audiweb, an Italian digital audience measurement system.
- 2014
BrindisiReport and TriestePrima join the group
[1]Citynews adds two established local digital publications and consolidates its presence in Rome and Milan.
- 2013
Corporate conversion and mobile expansion
[1]Citynews completes a second €1.5 million venture-capital round, becomes a joint-stock company, reports a balanced budget in June, and releases iOS and Android apps.
- 2012
Today is launched
[1]The company opens further local editions and establishes Today as a national digital newspaper.
- 2011
Initial investment and network expansion
[1]After launching FoggiaToday, Citynews raises an initial €3 million investment round and expands to thirty newspapers through new launches and additions such as LeccePrima, RomagnaOggi and AgrigentoNotizie.
- 2010
Citynews is founded
[1]Luca Lani and Fernando Diana establish Citynews in January as an Italian journalistic start-up.
Products and positioning
A nationwide Italian digital publisher combining numerous locally branded news sites with national and thematic online publications, monetized principally through advertising and distributed through websites and mobile applications.
Digital local newspapers · 2010
Local Citynews editions
The core of Citynews is a large network of locally branded online newspapers serving Italian cities and regions. The editions focus on municipal affairs, local politics, public services, crime and emergency reporting, business, culture, sport and community events. Examples mentioned in reference material include FoggiaToday, LeccePrima, BrindisiReport, TriestePrima, QuiComo, FrosinoneToday, CasertaNews and TerniToday. The network has been described as comprising forty-seven local editions, although counts may vary by date and classification.
National digital newspaper · 2012
Today
Today is Citynews's principal national online news publication. Launched in 2012, it complements the group's local reporting with coverage aimed at a nationwide Italian audience. Its role gives Citynews a central national destination while the wider network supplies geographically specific content and audience reach.
European affairs publication · 2017
EuropaToday
EuropaToday was launched to cover the European Parliament and European affairs from an Italian editorial perspective. It extends Citynews beyond municipal and regional reporting into institutional and international subjects relevant to Italian readers.
Thematic digital publication
AgrifoodToday
AgrifoodToday is a thematic publication associated with the Citynews editorial group, focused on agriculture, food and related economic or policy subjects. The available reference material identifies the title as part of the group's national and thematic portfolio but does not provide further operating detail.
Digital distribution · 2013
Mobile applications
Citynews developed mobile distribution for its publications, first releasing applications for iOS and Android in 2013 and later introducing apps for individual newspapers. The apps extend access to the group's national and local reporting and support the publisher's mobile-first digital model.
Marketing campaigns
- 2017Citynews brand refresh
Italy
Citynews introduced a new corporate logo while expanding the mobile-app presence of its individual newspapers. The initiative supported a more coherent identity across a growing collection of local and thematic publications.
Outcome. The group continued operating a broad multi-title network; the reference material does not provide a quantified campaign result.
Brand decisions
2017
Launch EuropaTodayProduct launchBackground
Citynews was broadening from city and regional reporting into national and thematic journalism.
Action taken
The company launched EuropaToday to cover the European Parliament and European affairs relevant to Italy.
Aftermath
EuropaToday became part of the group's national and thematic edition portfolio.
2014
Adopt an advertising-led revenue modelStrategyBackground
Citynews was operating a rapidly expanding portfolio of online publications and had previously worked with advertising partners including Fox Network and Fox International Channels.
Action taken
By the end of 2014, the group was reported to rely solely on advertising income.
Aftermath
Advertising became the stated primary source of revenue as Citynews continued local expansion.
2013
Formalize the company and invest in mobile distributionStrategyBackground
Citynews needed a corporate and technological structure capable of supporting a larger digital publishing network.
Action taken
The company became a joint-stock company, completed a second venture-capital round, and released applications for iOS and Android.
Aftermath
The company reported reaching a balanced budget in June 2013 and expanded its reach to mobile audiences.
Second investment round. €1.5 million (2013)
2012
Launch a national news titleProduct launchBackground
Citynews had established a growing base of local editions and sought a national editorial destination.
Action taken
The company launched Today while continuing to open local editions.
Aftermath
Today became part of the group's national and thematic publication portfolio.
2011
Build a local-news network through additions and acquisitionsM&ABackground
Citynews sought to scale beyond its initial journalistic start-up model and broaden geographic coverage across Italy.
Action taken
After the FoggiaToday launch and initial investment, the group added publications including LeccePrima, RomagnaOggi and AgrigentoNotizie.
Aftermath
By the end of 2011, the group was reported to have thirty newspapers and fifty-six journalists.
Initial investment round. €3 million (2011)
Recent events
Rogers announces CityNews rebrand for Canadian radio stations[3]
Reported:
Rogers Sports & Media announced that its news radio stations, including 680 NEWS, would be rebranded under CityNews in fall 2021; the article says the change is to brand identity only and that the stations would continue providing the same content.
CityNews wins Best Local Newscast[4]
Reported:
CityNews was awarded Best Local Newscast at the 2021 Canadian Screen Awards; the awards were presented in a virtual ceremony on Monday evening.
Weekdays and relative dates follow the original report; their exact calendar dates have not been verified.
Sources4 sources
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