Almost every news story you read in an Italian newspaper or on a news website comes from a news agency. The news agencies provide the raw news reports that newsrooms use to write their articles. Anyone familiar with them will have a much better understanding of the Italian news landscape.
What a News Agency Does
An agency employs correspondents throughout the country (and in some cases worldwide) who report on events in short, standardized news briefs (lanci). These reports are sent every second to newsrooms, government agencies, and companies that pay for them. Newspapers, television stations, and news websites then decide what to do with them. That is why breaking news stories in the Italian media often resemble one another, even down to the wording.
ANSA – Number One
The ANSA (National Associated Press Agency, founded in 1945) is by far the largest and most important agency in Italy. What sets it apart is that it is Newspaper Publishers' Cooperative organized—meaning the publishers themselves are the owners. ANSA is also the only Italian news agency with a significant international network of correspondents and is therefore most comparable internationally to dpa, AFP, or Reuters.
Media in Italy: An Overview of the Press, News Agencies, and Websites
An Overview of Italy's Media Landscape: News agencies, daily newspapers, regional press, online portals, TV and radio, sports and business media, and the state of press freedom.
The Other Major Agencies
- AGI (Agenzia Giornalistica Italia), founded in 1950 – is part of the energy conglomerate Eni and is the second-largest publication in terms of editorial staff size.
- Adnkronos, formed in 1963 through the merger of the Adn and Kronos agencies—today it has a broad range of services, including strong healthcare and business services.
- askanews, formed in 2014 through the merger of Asca (1969) and TmNews—one of the largest newsrooms, with over 100 journalists.
- LaPresse, Direct and Italpress – smaller, sometimes specialized providers.
- Radiocor – the newspaper's business desk Il Sole 24 Ore.
These agencies are included on the official list of agencies „of national importance,“ which is relevant for government contracts and agreements.
Who owns the agencies?
One issue that is regularly discussed in Italy: the ownership structure. While ANSA is owned by the publishers themselves, other agencies are backed by Corporations or owners affiliated with companies – for AGI, for example, the Eni Group. Critics see this as a risk to independence; supporters point to editorial guidelines. For you as a reader, this means above all: It’s worth knowing who is behind a source. For more on the bigger picture, see Freedom of the Press in Italy.
Read the agencies' own statements
The good news: The major agencies operate freely accessible news sites. If you want firsthand news from Italy without any bias, read ansa.it, agi.it, or adnkronos.com directly—plus, news agency reports are clear and concise, making them well-suited for Practicing Italian by Reading the Newspaper.
What You Can Do Next
Bookmark ansa.it for quick, objective news. When it comes to important topics, compare two news agencies and a daily newspaper—that way, you can quickly tell the difference between verified reports and analysis. The guide provides a comprehensive overview. Media in Italy.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions About News Agencies in Italy
Sources
- ANSA – National Associated Press Agency (accessed July 2026)
- FNSI – National Federation of the Italian Press (accessed July 2026)
