The prize was founded in Milan in 1960 by a group of special correspondents including Gaetano Tumiati, Orio Vergani, Paolo Monelli, Luigi Barzini, Jr., Indro Montanelli, Enrico Emanuelle, and Enzo Biagi, the jury chairman.[1]
The first year the prize was sponsored by Reader's Digest, but replaced the following year by Bassetti.[4]
In 1961, the prize took its present name, which involves a play on words. ‘Premiolino’ can be translated as little prize (or ‘prizelet’), the diminutive suffix ‘lino’ intended to convey the award’s unpretentious nature; but ‘lino’ also means ‘linen’ and refers to the sponsor’s household linen range.[4] The value of the prize was 200,000 lire, a remarkable sum when the prize was founded, but one which remained unchanged for nearly two decades despite inflation. Initially, the prize was awarded to the "Journalist of the Month" and was delivered every three months.[1]
Bassetti remained the sponsor for 23 years, before being replaced by Parmalat in the 1980s, which established the "Journalist of the Year" and "Best Journalist of Europe" awards.
Since 2007, the prize sponsor has been Birra Moretti.
