Editorialist and correspondent of politics, economics and society for the Corriere della Sera, Stella has won several journalism awards, including: the “E” award given by Montanelli, Biagi and Bocca; the "Barzini" award; the "Ischia" award; and the"Saint Vincent" award for non-fiction.
He is the author of various books, including: Schei, a report on the legendary Northeast, Dio Po / gli Uomini che Fecero la Padania, a vicious pamphlet on the Lega party, Lo Spreco, an investigation on how Italy has thrown away at least 2000 trillion of old lire, Chic, an ironic and fierce voyage among Italians who have made a lot of money, and La Casta, written with his colleague Sergio Rizzo – almost a million copies were sold in just a few months in 2007.