A Historic Turning Point for Sicilian Publishing: Palella Holdings Acquires the Newspaper La Sicilia and Its Publishing Company, Including Its Stake in ANSA

CATANIA, Italy--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 27, 2025--

A new era is beginning for Sicilian publishing. La Sicilia, the most widely read newspaper on the island and a reference point for millions of Sicilians worldwide, is now officially under the control of Palella Holdings, the family office led by Italian-American entrepreneur Salvatore Palella, originally from Acireale and long residing in the United States, from where he oversees numerous international business ventures.

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The transaction, finalized through the Sicily Investment Fund and the establishment of a new publishing company with Gianluca Spriano appointed as CEO, marks a historic handover after 80 uninterrupted years of management by the Ciancio Sanfilippo family. Through Dse, the family has published the newspaper since its founding in 1945 by Domenico Sanfilippo, a lawyer and landowner from Adrano. His grandson, Mario Ciancio Sanfilippo, led the paper for 51 years, becoming a central figure in Italian journalism, also serving as president of FIEG and vice president of ANSA, and transforming a regional newspaper into the strategic asset of one of Southern Italy’s most important media groups.

For eighty years, La Sicilia has been a key player in regional life and the voice of the Sicilian people. It has been a training ground for some of the country’s most respected journalists. The publication has always stood out for its authority and independence, as recently acknowledged by President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella during the 80th anniversary celebration of the newspaper.

Under its new ownership, led by Salvatore Palella, La Sicilia now enters a new phase of development, focused on maintaining and enhancing its deep-rooted identity with Sicily while expanding its national and international presence. Special attention will be given to technological innovation, including the launch of a new app and an innovative platformization of the editorial product. Leveraging the global recognition of the “Sicilia” brand—also the name of the newspaper—the new vision aims to build a symbolic bridge with the millions of Sicilians living abroad, especially in the United States.

The acquisition also includes a stake in ANSA, and goes beyond the editorial field. Palella Holdings plans major investments in the acquired real estate assets, including the Centrale del Latte in Catania—an iconic city institution included in the Dse portfolio—which is set for a significant relaunch based on a strategy of enhancement and reuse. The same philosophy underpins the selection of a new headquarters for the newspaper, in a prestigious property located in a residential area of Catania, which will become the symbol of a new editorial and cultural era for the publication.

STATEMENTS

The Ciancio Family:

“We have decided to entrust our newspaper to a young and visionary entrepreneur like Salvatore Palella, confident that his international vision will lead La Sicilia toward new achievements, while respecting the tradition our family has built with passion and independence over the past eighty years—supporting key battles for the development of the island, championing the region’s most vibrant forces, and serving as a tool for democracy and legality.”

Salvatore Palella:

“Acquiring La Sicilia is not just a publishing initiative—it’s a heartfelt gesture of love for my homeland. As a Sicilian who has lived abroad for many years, I feel both the responsibility and the desire to contribute to the island’s future, starting with free, modern, and forward-looking communication. La Sicilia will continue to be the voice of Sicilians—deeply rooted in our identity, yet open to the world. It’s time for Sicily to rise again, together.

For me, acquiring La Sicilia is both a personal and professional milestone. I return to my homeland with a clear goal: to invest meaningfully in the future of this newspaper by focusing on digital innovation, an authentic connection with the region, and the enhancement of the exceptional talents I have already had the chance to meet. We want to make La Sicilia a national and international benchmark, a source of pride for Sicilians everywhere.”

Antonello Piraneo, Editor-in-Chief of La Sicilia:

“The newsroom, which I have had the honor of leading for the past six years, is ready to take on this new phase with confidence and enthusiasm. I want to thank the Ciancio family for the trust and editorial freedom they have given me over the years. I now look to the future with optimism, alongside the new publisher, with whom we share an ambitious and tangible growth project. I am confident that the independence of our journalism will be preserved and expanded.”

Domenico Ciancio Sanfilippo, Deputy Editor of La Sicilia:

“The newspaper looks to the future by staying true to its history. I will continue, with the same passion, to work toward enhancing a brand that has represented the values of sound journalism and democracy for 80 years. I am grateful to my father for what he built, and we will continue to draw inspiration from his teachings.”

Santo Russo, Sole Director of Dse S.p.A. (confirmed by Palella Holdings):

“We are leading an important media enterprise and an authoritative information model into the future. This acquisition is a positive signal and a vote of confidence in Sicily’s potential. Palella Holdings’ strategic approach aims not only at relaunching a media company, but also at fostering broader economic and cultural growth across the entire region.”

Gianluca Spriano, CFO of Palella Holdings:

“The challenge ahead is significant, but so are the enthusiasm and the ideas with which we plan to face it. Our goal is to preserve the identity and autonomy of the newspaper, while at the same time instilling it with a modern and global entrepreneurial vision.”

The new era of La Sicilia is ready to begin—anchored in a prestigious legacy and looking boldly toward the future.

Visit www.palella.com

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Alaska U.S. Senate candidate Dan Sullivan acknowledges that sharing a name and party affiliation with the incumbent Republican gives him “an instant megaphone" in the crowded primary race. But Sullivan said his campaign isn't a sham or something Democrats put him up to doing.

He said friends for years have jokingly referred to him as senator and asked if he has ever thought about running. He said he’s been considering it for more than a decade.

“This is my choice,” Sullivan, who lives in the small fishing community of Petersburg, said in a telephone interview Monday.

Last week, Sen. Dan Sullivan accused the challenger Sullivan of “trying to trick” voters to help his main rival in the race, Democratic former U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola. The senator suggested the other Sullivan's entrance in the August primary was part of a coordinated effort by Democrats and Peltola's campaign to confuse voters, an accusation they deny. He threatened litigation to get to the bottom of it.

The issue is of national concern to Republicans because they are seeking to hold onto their majority in the U.S. Senate in what is expected to be a difficult midterm election year for the party in power. Sullivan, the challenger, dismissed claims that his candidacy is a merely a ruse to undermine the senator's reelection chances.

He said he has had no contact with Peltola's campaign — “zero, none, zilch” — and said “no” when asked if anyone from the state Democratic Party or any national Democratic operatives had contacted him to run.

A Peltola spokesperson, Harry Child, has said the campaign “has no involvement with either Sullivan campaign.” The executive director of the Alaska Democratic Party, Jenny-Marie Stryker, said her organization “is in no way affiliated with either Dan Sullivan.” A Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee spokesperson, Monica Robinson, replied “no” when asked if the group had been involved in urging the challenger Sullivan to run.

Sullivan called sharing a name with the Alaska's incumbent U.S. senator “a matter of fate” and said he had done nothing wrong.

“I have every right to run for whatever office I'm qualified for, and I’m qualified for this office,” the challenger said, adding: “I think I’m doing what most Americans would think would be a patriotic thing to do when you’re unsatisfied with the status quo. You stand up and say, I’m going to fight for things I believe that are going to make my community better.”

Ballots in prior years in Alaska have not identified the incumbent, but the Alaska Division of Elections’ current candidate list online does. It also distinguishes the candidates using a middle initial — Dan S. Sullivan for the senator and Dan J. Sullivan for the challenger.

Alaska has open primaries in which the top four vote-getters, regardless of party, advance to the ranked choice general election in November. Sen. Sullivan's campaign worries having two Dan Sullivans on the ballot could confuse voters.

Sen. Sullivan's campaign, in a statement Monday, said, “Alaskans deserve a fair and honest election — not political games meant to manipulate the ballot and benefit Democrats.”

The challenger said he was registered with the limited government-leaning Alaskan Independence Party for decades, until the party's dissolution late last year. Election officials had said voters registered with the party could change their affiliation but if they did not, they'd be shown as “undeclared.” Sullivan said he then was listed as undeclared until filing to run for office, when he registered as Republican.

He said he was motivated in part by his late father, whom he described as a “true, compassionate, conservative Republican.” He said if he had to label himself, it would be “a pragmatic Republican centrist” — similar to Alaska's senior U.S. senator, Lisa Murkowski, but “with touches of a Rand Paul Republican in there.”

He said he grew up in the Chicago area but was drawn to Alaska and put down roots nearly 50 years ago in Petersburg. The fishing community of about 3,400 in southeast Alaska's Tongass National Forest is known as “Little Norway” for its many residents with Scandinavian roots. He worked for the U.S. Forest Service before changing careers and becoming a teacher. He has since retired.

Like most communities in Alaska, Petersburg isn't connected to the state's main road system and is accessible only by air or water. Juneau, the nearest city, is about 45 minutes away by plane.

Petersburg sits on Mitkof Island, which is distinguished by mountains, thick stands of forest and boggy areas called muskeg. Sea lions hauled up on buoys and humpback whales and orcas are common sights off its shores.

Sullivan, who will turn 69 this weekend, passed on an interview request last Friday, he said, because the king salmon were running and he wanted to fish.

As far as his run for office, the challenger said he plans to do some fundraising and hopes to campaign in the state's larger cities, including Anchorage and Juneau, but he so far has no firm plans to do so and is working on the details.

He finds the current dustup over his Senate run — and the incumbent's reaction — a bit surprising.

“I guess my thought would be, ‘Dude, why don’t you just run your campaign?’ If you’ve got a strong record, run on your record. People will love you for it and you’ll be swept back into office,” he said Monday. “Why would he be concerned that a guy out of Petersburg is this huge threat?”

Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, heads to a closed-door meeting with fellow Republicans, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, June 2, 2026. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)