The Grand Narrative: Internal Migration in Italy as Reported by the Media

This article explores internal migration in Italy, the large-scale movement during the “Italian economic miracle”, focusing on the powerful role of media in shaping its public perception. Almost 25 million changes of residence occurred between 1955 and 1970, but the complexity of these migrations has often been reduced to a “grand narrative” dominated by the archetype of the impoverished southern immigrant, symbolized by the “cardboard box used as a suitcase”, moving to the North. This narrative, perpetuated by films, journalism, and photography, emphasizes hardship, prejudice, and marginalization faced by southern migrants in the industrial North. The article critically examines how media representations have overshadowed the diversity of migration experiences, focusing almost exclusively on South-to-North flows and neglecting the prevalence of short-distance, interprovincial movements. Information in this narrative (e.g. “no southerners” rental signs, makeshift housing, and the association of southerners with poverty and criminality) are shown to be exaggerated or even constructed by the media. At the same time, the article highlights the persistence of prejudice and the influence of collective memory, drawing parallels between historical internal migration and contemporary narratives about foreign immigrants. Ultimately, the study calls for a more nuanced understanding of internal migration in Italy, one that moves beyond simplistic, stereotypical images and acknowledges the varied realities of those who moved within the country.