Giuseppe Zilli Journalism Award

A national award in a Gran Sasso village

The Giuseppe Zilli Journalism Award is one of the most unique cultural events in Abruzzo. Every summer, it brings the biggest names in Italian media to Fano Adriano, a village of about two hundred inhabitants perched at over 700 meters above sea level in the province of Teramo, in the heart of the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park. Promoted by the Giuseppe Zilli Award ETS Association with the support of the Municipality of Fano Adriano and the Abruzzo Order of Journalists, the award has become a staple of the national journalistic calendar.

The legacy of Father Giuseppe Zilli

The award is dedicated to the memory of Father Giuseppe Zilli (1921-1999), a priest of the Society of Saint Paul born in Fano Adriano to a family of shepherds. As editor of Famiglia Cristiana from 1954 to 1980, Zilli led the weekly through a period of extraordinary editorial growth, viewing information as a genuine service to people, with a particular focus on the vulnerable and human dignity. He was among the promoters of the monthly Jesus and made a decisive contribution to the development of Periodici San Paolo. The award draws inspiration from this legacy, recognizing the value of ethical information every year.

Categories and Jury

The award recognizes four major areas of the profession: print media, television, web, and radio, alongside the Lifetime Achievement Award and special memorial awards. The jury brings together authoritative figures from journalism and culture, ensuring the event's national prestige. Over the years, the award has seen some of the most well-known protagonists of Italian information take the stage at the Eremo dell'Annunziata.

Three days of culture, ethics, and territory

The format goes beyond the ceremony: the program spans three days that weave together information and the promotion of the local area. Events include meetings on the old-growth forests of the Gran Sasso, film screenings, a professional seminar on the code of ethics for journalists, guided tours of local artistic heritage, and debates on geopolitics and international current affairs.

Fano Adriano and its heritage

The main venue is the Eremo dell'Annunziata, while the Church of Saints Peter and Paul houses the village's artistic treasures. Immersed in one of the most evocative mountain landscapes of the Central Apennines, Fano Adriano offers visitors the chance to discover an authentic corner of inland Abruzzo, amidst silence, ancient beech forests, and the pastoral tradition that was once the life of Father Zilli's family.