Italy

Italy: Roberto Saviano's conviction a major blow to free expression

13/10/2023

OBCT joins international media freedom, free expression, and journalist organisations in expressing shock over criminal conviction of the Italian writer

Also available in ITA

Italy: MFRR partners strongly condemn investigation into Domani journalists

07/03/2024

OBCT and MFRR partners note with concern that Italian press freedom has fallen under renewed pressure. We call for the preliminary investigation of three Domani journalists to be immediately dropped, and we urge Italian authorities to respect the confidentiality of journalistic sources in line with international and European press freedom standards

Silencing Voices in Italy: The Erosion of Media Freedom

19/01/2024

Italy's media is in crisis, battling legal onslaughts and facing a surge of censorship one year after the establishment of the far-right government led by Giorgia Meloni

By Sielke Kelner

(Originally published by Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung , 16.01.2024)

Italy: MFRR partners condemn summons of RAI presenter Sigfrido Ranucci

15/11/2023

OBCT, together with MFRR parteners, condemns the summoning of RAI presenter Sigfrido Ranucci by the Parliamentary Committee and urges the Italian Parliament to guarantee RAI independence

Also available in ITA

For a transnational anti-SLAPP network: countering gags on public participation

On October 16, 2023, the first public event of CASE Italia dedicated to countering SLAPPs took place in Rome. Speakers included journalists, activists, experts in the field, and representatives of a range of organisations advocating for freedom of expression

For a transnational anti-SLAPP network: countering gags on public participation

19/09/2023

On October 16, 2023, the first public event of CASE Italia dedicated to countering SLAPPs will take place in Rome. Speakers include journalists, activists, experts in the field, and representatives of a range of organisations advocating for freedom of expression

Programme available in ITA

Quarto potere - Giornalismo e giornalisti nell’Italia contemporanea

A comprehensive overview of the recent history of Italian media

Media, politics, and vexatious lawsuits - An Italian perspective

31/08/2023

An excerpt from the 2023 MFRR Summit dedicated to “Press Freedom on the Line” - which took place from the 29 to the 31 of March dedicated to the spreading of the SLAPP phenomenon in Italy. Recently, Italy has drawn the attention of several international organisations working on media freedom. A cause for concern is the rapid succession of defamation lawsuits and subsequent legal proceedings against Italian journalists and intellectuals brought up by politicians and high-ranking public figures. By exploring the case study of Italian newspaper Domani – which in a matter of months has been respectively threatened to be sued and sued by two high profile public figures – the discussion focused on defamation, SLAPPs, and the challenges Italian media face when reporting on public figures.

Acts of intimidation against journalists – Year 2022

“Acts of Intimidation against Journalists – Year 2022” is a publication by the Italian Ministry of the Interior and the Department of Public Security. The scope of this document is to analyse the ongoing situation in the country with respect to the evolution of the threats to the safety of journalists

Acts of Intimidation against Journalists – First Quarter 2023

“Acts of intimidation against journalists – First Quarter 2023” ("Atti intimidatori nei confronti dei giornalisti") is a regular report published by the the Department of Public Security of the Italian Ministry of the Interior. The scope of the analysis is to examine the ongoing situation in the country with respect to the evolution of threats posed to the safety of journalists