Prasa Włoska Wczoraj I Dziś

The main aim of the present paper is a historical review of the Italian press evolution from the end of the 18th century till our times. At the beginning the Italian newspapers were addressed to the social elite, the language was characterized by literary style and the use of a bureaucratic and official vocabulary. The next important period described are the years of fascism which led to the end of freedom and independence of Italian press. The language became very solemn, artificial and subject to the will of the political authority represented by the Duce. The last part of the paper focuses on the present situation in the context of mass communication and on linguistic issues of the modern press. Particular attention is paid to the internet variety of Italian journalism