A call for a strike has been launched by journalists’ unions at RAI, Italy’s public broadcaster, to protest against ever-increasing political interference.
The strike will be observed from May 6 to 7, following a telephone call from Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama. This is a close relative of Giorgia Meloni, who concluded a controversial migration agreement with her, who called an RAI editor-in-chief to complain about a report. The Usigrai journalists’ union called a strike, failing to be reassured by management about this intervention and political interference on the air.
Which is hardly surprising, the entire management having been taken over by the government. Giampaolo Rossi, a close friend of Giorgia Meloni, was appointed director general of RAI a year ago. Even if there is a great tradition of dependence of public television bosses on the government, journalists’ unions denounce increasingly suffocating control and the zeal of its leaders.
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Censorship of a text by Antonio Scurati denounced
It all happened last Saturday. Antonio Scurati, who received the Strega prize, the equivalent of the Goncourt for a trilogy on Mussolini, is invited to speak on the public channel Rai 3. In view of the anniversary of the liberation ofItaly, on April 25, 1945, he planned to read a text in which he would make the fundamental link between historical fascism and the authoritarian populism of Giorgia Meloni’s party. However, on the way to the studio, he received a message canceling his intervention.
So, Giorgia Meloni affirmed that she had nothing to do with it, that it was a pure editorial decision, she even published Scrurati’s text on her Facebook page and suggested that this is the sum requested by the writer – 1800 euros – which would be at the origin of the problem. The fact remains that there was indeed censorship. In the text read on air by the show’s presenter, Serena Bortone, the writer accused Meloni of never having repudiated the fascist experience.
Also listenAntonio Scurati, elevator for the fascists
Freedom of expression under threat?
Honestly, no. It is the 41st country out of 180 in the Reporters Without Borders ranking and there is a wide diversity of opinions in the media. But there are still worrying signs, such as the so-called “Gag” law which aims to prohibit any reproduction of a custody order. A way to protect yourself from journalistic investigations. Then, at RAI, a Roberto Saviano series on crime was shelved. It can be said that the European law on media freedom, which protects editorial offices from political interference, will be well received at RAI.
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