Italy’s RAI journalists strike over funds streamlining, complain of censorship and media repression

ROME — Some journalists at Italy’s state-run RAI went on strike Monday to protest funds streamlining and what they mentioned was an more and more repressive environment in Italy for media underneath the federal government of Premier Giorgia Meloni.

The 24-hour RAI strike is the most recent protest by Italian journalists towards what they are saying are threats to freedom of the press and expression in Italy, together with prison investigations of journalists and suspected episodes of censorship. Not all journalists participated and RAI newscasts have been nonetheless airing, although in a considerably lowered type.

RAI, which controls Italy’s three principal public TV channels, has mentioned it’s working to remodel itself into a contemporary digital media firm and can’t make new hires. In a press release responding to the strike, it mentioned RAI is not placing in danger any of the rights or jobs of present workers and is “ever extra dedicated to safeguarding the values of pluralism and freedom of expression.”

The strike got here simply days after the media watchdog group Reporters With out Borders downgraded Italy 5 notches in its annual index of press freedom. At No. 46 out of 180, Italy moved into the “problematic” class of nations alongside different EU members Poland and Hungary.

Amongst different issues, RSF cited stories of a proposed acquisition of Italian information company AGI by a lawmaker of the League occasion, a coalition accomplice in Meloni’s right-wing authorities. The lawmaker already controls three conservative dailies. Final month, AGI journalists went on strike to protest the proposed sale from state-controlled ENI.

RAI tv journalists, and RAI radio journalists two weeks in the past, are protesting firm funds tightening, together with hiring freezes, job elimination by attrition and workers reorganization. They are saying the streamlining has the final word goal of “lowering RAI to changing into the megaphone of the federal government.”

“I’m very involved about what is occurring in Italy,” mentioned Daniele Macheda, secretary of the union USIGRAI. At a information convention Monday on the international press affiliation, Macheda referred to as the AGI case particularly “a symptom of a system that doesn’t work and dangers bringing into issue an asset of democracy, which is free and unbiased data.”

RAI was within the information not too long ago over an episode of alleged censorship when it abruptly canceled a deliberate monologue by an antifascist author to air April 25, when Italy commemorates its liberation from fascist rule. The textual content was extremely crucial of Meloni, whose occasion traces its origins in Italy’s neo-fascist motion.

RAI mentioned the contract was canceled for monetary causes. Meloni herself posted the textual content on her Fb account, however she has additionally criticized RAI’s investigative reporting. Most not too long ago, she publicly attacked RAI over an investigative program concerning the migration deal she struck with Albania to construct two migrant processing facilities there. The deal has been criticized by left-wing opposition events and human rights teams.

“Assist me ship to (Prime Minister) Edi Rama and the Albanian folks our solidarity for having been lynched for having merely helped our nation,” Meloni instructed her Brothers of Italy occasion at a marketing campaign rally April 28.

Journalists in Italy, together with at RAI, have lengthy lamented the usage of threatened or actual defamation lawsuits or prison complaints by politicians, businesspeople and others who’re the topic of investigative reporting.

In latest weeks, the editor of Domani newspaper, Emilio Fittipaldi, was summoned to reply questions by members of Italy’s anti-mafia parliamentary fee a few prison probe into the supply of media leaks about prime politicians. Three Domani journalists are at present underneath prison investigation by prosecutors in Perugia for his or her reporting on Meloni’s protection minister and threat jailtime if convicted.