La Valsusa

La Valsusa is a local weekly newspaper based in Susa, in the Piedmont region of Italy, covering the Val di Susa and Val Sangone. It was founded in April 1897 under the name Rocciamelone by Bishop Edoardo Giuseppe Rosaz, who was later beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1991. The paper is published by Stampa Diocesana Segusina s.r.l., a company linked to the Diocese of Susa, and has a Catholic editorial orientation. Its first issue carried the bishop's pledge to defend both the religious and temporal interests of the people of the valley. Initially printed in the bishop's own residence, the paper began with a circulation of about 500 copies and relied on contributions from residents across the valley's municipalities. Publication was suspended between 1905 and 1907, after which the paper returned under its current name, La Valsusa. In 1918, Sister Tecla Merlo, who was founding the Pious Society Daughters of St. Paul, was invited to collaborate with the editorial team; the newspaper thus became a training ground for the future Pauline editions that would spread worldwide. A defining era was the long editorship of Monsignor Carlo Marra, who began contributing in 1912 and directed the paper from 1935 to 1975. Under his successor, Don Aldo Amprimo, Guido Ferrero introduced the sports page. In 1979, Don Ettore De Faveri took over as director, a role he still held according to the Italian Wikipedia entry. In 1987 the format changed from broadsheet to tabloid, with page counts varying between 48 and 64 pages; between 2006 and 2008 the paper reached 96 pages before settling back to 56–64–72 pages. Today La Valsusa maintains its central newsroom in Susa and two branch offices in Avigliana and Giaveno. Its website, lavalsusa.it, presents local news, front-page previews, and sections on cronaca (local news) from across the valley. The paper has also published editorial initiatives such as Raccontavalsusa, a series of twenty issues produced up to 2009 that explored the history, traditions, customs, and notable figures of the Val di Susa, as well as special editions for its 100th and 110th anniversaries. A non-complete archive of editions from 1897 to the present is held at the Archivio Storico Diocesano, curated by the Centro Culturale Diocesano, and another collection is kept at the Biblioteca Civica di Susa.

La Valsusa was founded in April 1897 under the name Rocciamelone, named after the mountain that dominates the Val di Susa. It was established by Bishop Edoardo Giuseppe Rosaz of Susa, who was later beatified by Pope John Paul II on 14 July 1991. In the first issue, the bishop wrote: "Accanto agli interessi religiosi noi propugneremo eziando quelli temporali dei valsusini" (Alongside religious interests, we will also champion the temporal interests of the people of Val di Susa). The first headquarters was the bishop's own residence, which housed both the printing press and the editorial office. Among the early editorial staff were lawyer Cesare Napoli and Giuseppe Calabrese, the future bishop of Aosta. Initial circulation was around 500 copies, relying on external, more or less voluntary contributions from residents of the various municipalities in the valley. Publication was suspended between 1905 and 1907. When the paper returned to newsstands, it did so under its current name, La Valsusa. In 1918, Sister Tecla Merlo, who was founding the religious institute known as the Pious Society Daughters of St. Paul (Pia società figlie di San Paolo), was invited to collaborate with the editorial team. The newspaper thus became a training ground for the future Pauline editions that would spread throughout the world. A major figure in the paper's life was Monsignor Carlo Marra, who began contributing in 1912 and directed the weekly from 1935 to 1975. Under his successor, Don Aldo Amprimo, Guido Ferrero introduced the sports page. In 1979, Don Ettore De Faveri took over as director of the weekly, a position he still held according to the Italian Wikipedia entry. In 1987 the publication's format was changed from broadsheet to tabloid, with a variable number of pages between 48 and 64. Between 2006 and 2008 the paper reached 96 pages, then returned to a 56–64–72 page format. In addition to the central newsroom in Susa, the weekly has two branch offices in Avigliana and Giaveno. Among its historical collaborators were Federico Marconcini (1883–1974), founder of the Italian People's Party, deputy and senator, and professor at the Catholic University; Severino Savi (1911–1997), a priest of the Diocese of Susa and pioneer in the cultural enhancement of Val di Susa sacred art; Ferruccio Pari; and Canonico Ferrero. Under the direction of Don Ettore De Faveri, La Valsusa published twenty issues of Raccontavalsusa up to 2009, a publication aimed at exploring the history, traditions, customs, characters, and events that distinguish life in the Val di Susa. The newspaper also published special issues for its 100th and 110th anniversaries. A non-complete collection of editions from 1897 to the present is conserved at the Archivio Storico Diocesano, curated by the Centro Culturale Diocesano. Another collection is held by the Biblioteca Civica di Susa.

• 2009

  Twenty issues of Raccontavalsusa published up to this year.

• 2006

  Page count reaches 96 pages (until 2008).

• 1987

  Format changed from broadsheet to tabloid, 48–64 pages.

• 1979

  Don Ettore De Faveri takes over as director.

• 1935

  Monsignor Carlo Marra begins his long directorship (until 1975).

• 1918

  Sister Tecla Merlo invited to collaborate; paper becomes a training ground for Pauline editions.

• 1907

  Returned to newsstands under the name La Valsusa.

• 1905

  Publication suspended until 1907.

• 1897

  Founded in April as Rocciamelone by Bishop Edoardo Giuseppe Rosaz.

Catholic-inspired local weekly newspaper for the Val di Susa and Val Sangone communities.

• La Valsusa weekly newspaper

  Local weekly newspaper covering Val di Susa and Val Sangone.

• Raccontavalsusa

  Editorial series exploring the history, traditions, and figures of Val di Susa; 20 issues published up to 2009.

• lavalsusa.it

  Official news website with local news, front-page previews, and sections.

1. 1La Valsusa - settimanale della Val di Susa e Val Sangonelavalsusa.it
2. 2La Valsusa - Wikipediait.wikipedia.org
3. 3La Valsusa - Wikidatawikidata.org