[2][3][4] The newspaper was founded in 1974 by the journalist Indro Montanelli,[5][6] together with the colleagues Enzo Bettiza, Ferenc Fejtő, Raymond Aron, and others, after some disagreements with the new pro-left-wing editorial line adopted by the newspaper Corriere della Sera, where Montanelli had been one of the most important contributors.

[6] When Berlusconi entered politics in December 1993, Montanelli left fearing for his own independence, and went on to found the short-lived daily newspaper La Voce.

[13] As of 2003[update], the publisher of the newspaper, Società Europea di Edizioni,[14] was owned by Paolo Berlusconi (58.3%) and Arnoldo Mondadori Editore (41.7% directly and indirectly).

It was reported that by Roberto Amodei [it], the owner of several sports newspaper of Italy, had interested to subscribe the capital increase of Società Europea di Edizioni.

[22] In 1997, il Giornale was the seventh best-selling Italian newspaper, with a circulation of 218,741 copies.

It was severely criticized by its editorial staff, who later went on strike, which was the second time after the departure of Montanelli.