MicroMega
Encyclopedia
MicroMega is a political, cultural, social and economic Newsmagazine
, published bimonthly in Italy
.
It was founded in March 1986 by the editors Giorgio Ruffolo and Paolo Flores d'Arcais
, published by the Gruppo Editoriale L'Espresso
. The paper is based in Rome
, and the editor today is Paolo Flores d'Arcais.
The magazine was issued monthly from the 20th February to the 20th of April 2006, then weekly (over an eight-week period) during the 2006 Italian political campaign. In this time, it was issued with the title La primavera di MicroMega. In 2007, the magazine returned to the original bimonthly format.
The title MicroMega is probably inspired by a tale
by Voltaire
.
During the first years, the paper had a subtitle: "le ragioni della sinistra" ("the reasons of the Left"). Later this subtitle was removed. Each number has now a different title, inspired by a discussion theme.
Given its format, which includes long essays and articles, the journal tends to cater to an intellectual elite. Journalist Marco Travaglio
is one of its better known contributors. Many philosophers, social scientists and men and women of science and other leading figures have written on this paper, including Massimo Cacciari
, Joseph Ratzinger, Bruno Forte
, Michele Santoro
, Gianni Vattimo
, Leszek Kołakowski, Marcel Gauchet
, Margherita Hack
and Walter Veltroni
.
MicroMega has an average circulation of 25,000/30,000 copies. In 2006, some issues sold more than 100,000 copies.
On July 8, 2008, Micromega organised a rally against Silvio Berlusconi
's attempt to limit the power of the judiciary by getting parliament to pass a law that granted individuals occupying the four highest offices of the land (retroactive) immunity from prosecution during their mandate: they are the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the House of Deputies and the Speaker of the Senate. As prime minister, Berlusconi is thus be protected from prosecution until he leaves office. Roughly 100,000 people gathered in Rome's Piazza Navona to express their indignation at the new law and in defence of democracy.
Newsmagazine
A news magazine is a typed, printed, and published piece of paper, magazine or a radio or television program, usually weekly, featuring articles or segments on current events...
, published bimonthly in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
It was founded in March 1986 by the editors Giorgio Ruffolo and Paolo Flores d'Arcais
Paolo Flores d'Arcais
Paolo Flores d'Arcais is an Italian philosopher and journalist, editor of the magazine MicroMega...
, published by the Gruppo Editoriale L'Espresso
Gruppo Editoriale L'Espresso
Gruppo Editoriale L'Espresso S.p.A. is an Italian Media conglomerate, founded in 1955 and based in Rome, Italy and listed on the Italian Stock Exchange.- Shareholding :* CIR Group - 50,852%* Carlo Caracciolo - 10,008%...
. The paper is based in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, and the editor today is Paolo Flores d'Arcais.
The magazine was issued monthly from the 20th February to the 20th of April 2006, then weekly (over an eight-week period) during the 2006 Italian political campaign. In this time, it was issued with the title La primavera di MicroMega. In 2007, the magazine returned to the original bimonthly format.
The title MicroMega is probably inspired by a tale
Tale
Tale may refer to:*Cautionary tale, a traditional story told in folklore, to warn its hearer of a danger*Fairy tale, a fictional story that usually features folkloric characters and enchantments*Folk tale, a story passed-down within a particular population, which comprises the traditions of that...
by Voltaire
Voltaire
François-Marie Arouet , better known by the pen name Voltaire , was a French Enlightenment writer, historian and philosopher famous for his wit and for his advocacy of civil liberties, including freedom of religion, free trade and separation of church and state...
.
During the first years, the paper had a subtitle: "le ragioni della sinistra" ("the reasons of the Left"). Later this subtitle was removed. Each number has now a different title, inspired by a discussion theme.
Given its format, which includes long essays and articles, the journal tends to cater to an intellectual elite. Journalist Marco Travaglio
Marco Travaglio
Marco Travaglio is an Italian investigative journalist, writer and commentator.-Biography:Travaglio was born in Turin. He started his career writing for Catholic publications such as Il nostro tempo , then worked for the renowned journalist Indro Montanelli for newspapers such as Il Giornale and...
is one of its better known contributors. Many philosophers, social scientists and men and women of science and other leading figures have written on this paper, including Massimo Cacciari
Massimo Cacciari
Massimo Cacciari is an Italian philosopher and politician.Born in Venice, Massimo Cacciari graduated in philosophy from the University of Padua , where he also received his doctorate, writing a thesis on Immanuel Kant's "Critique of Judgment." In 1985, he became professor of Aesthetics at the...
, Joseph Ratzinger, Bruno Forte
Bruno Forte
Bruno Forte is an Italian theologian and ecclesiastic, currently Archbishop of Chieti-Vasto.-Biography:Archbishop Forte was born in Naples. He was ordained a priest on 18 April 1973. He was called "the most famous Italian theologian in Italy" and is seen as more progressive than Cardinal Joseph...
, Michele Santoro
Michele Santoro
Michele Santoro is an Italian journalist, anchorman, television host and presenter.He also served till October 2005 as Member of the European Parliament for Southern Italy with the Olive Tree, part of the Socialist Group and sat on the European Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice...
, Gianni Vattimo
Gianni Vattimo
Gianteresio Vattimo, also known as Gianni Vattimo is an internationally recognized Italian author, philosopher, and politician. Many of his works have been translated into English.-Biography:...
, Leszek Kołakowski, Marcel Gauchet
Marcel Gauchet
Marcel Gauchet is a French historian, philosopher and sociologist.Gauchet is professor at the Centre de recherches politiques Raymond Aron at the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales in Paris and head of the periodical Le Débat .Gauchet is one of France's most prominent contemporary...
, Margherita Hack
Margherita Hack
Margherita Hack is an Italian astrophysicist and popular science writer. The asteroid 8558 Hack, discovered in 1995, was named in her honor.-Biography:...
and Walter Veltroni
Walter Veltroni
Walter Veltroni, Knight Grand Cross, is an Italian writer, journalist and politician, who served as the first leader of the Democratic Party within the centre-left opposition, until his resignation on 17 February 2009. He served as Mayor of Rome from 2001 to 2008.-Biography:Walter Veltroni was...
.
MicroMega has an average circulation of 25,000/30,000 copies. In 2006, some issues sold more than 100,000 copies.
On July 8, 2008, Micromega organised a rally against Silvio Berlusconi
Silvio Berlusconi
Silvio Berlusconi , also known as Il Cavaliere – from knighthood to the Order of Merit for Labour which he received in 1977 – is an Italian politician and businessman who served three terms as Prime Minister of Italy, from 1994 to 1995, 2001 to 2006, and 2008 to 2011. Berlusconi is also the...
's attempt to limit the power of the judiciary by getting parliament to pass a law that granted individuals occupying the four highest offices of the land (retroactive) immunity from prosecution during their mandate: they are the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the House of Deputies and the Speaker of the Senate. As prime minister, Berlusconi is thus be protected from prosecution until he leaves office. Roughly 100,000 people gathered in Rome's Piazza Navona to express their indignation at the new law and in defence of democracy.
External links
- MicroMega official site
- MicroMega (più che) quotidiano. Official site of the weekly series La primavera di MIcromega
- The issue n.1 of 2003
- The rally Day of Legality, organized in MilanMilanMilan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
by MicroMega. - Filosofia e Religione. A historical best-selling issue of MicroMega.
- Cover of 2005 issues: 6/2005http://www.associazionedocenti.it/contenuti/articoli.asp?MID=7&SID=39&AID=447, 5/2005http://www.igirotondi.it/modules/soapbox/article.php?articleID=6, 4/2005, 3/2005