Italy: Concern about prosecutor’s demand for prison sentence for three journalists in response to their factual reporting - Article

Media freedom groups raise concern over Lecce’s prosecutor request that three journalists be jailed for six months in connection with their reporting about a labour lawsuit involving a former government minister. No journalist should face nor fear prison sentences for having published information in the public interest

Synergies and training are needed against SLAPP, or gag complaints - Article

Media expert lawyer Andrea Di Pietro positively comments on the anti-SLAPP package of the European Commission and stresses the need for training initiatives aimed at legal practitioners, to recognise and combat the gag complaints that threaten freedom of expression and the right of citizens to participate in the public debate

by Paola Rosà

Who is afraid of journalists? The MFRR Italy Mission Report - Article

The collection of findings and recommendations by the partners of the MFRR, in a booklet curated by OBCT.

Following the MFRR Italy Mission from 4 to 6 April, coordinated by OBCT, the conclusions about SLAPP, defamation and safety of journalists are published here

SLAPP and democracy, side effects and collateral damage - Article

Strategic lawsuits against public participation heavily impact on the citizens' right to be informed - that is why society needs to be able to respond to and to prevent this kind of abuse of legal tools. Here is a series of analysis and perspectives inspired by cases involving journalists and human rights defenders in Italy

Prison for defamation: a partially good news, the decision of the Italian Constitutional Court - Article

The MFRR partners welcome the decision of the Italian Constitutional Court but ask for more engagement by the Parliament: a reform of media laws is necessary to protect media freedom in the country

Carcere e giornalisti: la Corte Costituzionale fa fare un passo avanti all'Italia - Article

I partner del consorzio Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) accolgono con favore il passo avanti attuato dalla Corte Costituzionale Italiana nell’abolizione delle pene carcerarie nei casi di diffamazione

Defamation and prison: the decision of the Italian Constitutional Court is a first step forward - Article

The organisations of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) welcome the decision by the Italian Constitutional Court to refer a decision on whether to abolish prison sentences for criminal defamation in relation to journalists and media workers to the Italian Parliament. Qui la versione italiana

Jail and defamation: an international call to the Italian Constitutional Court - Article

Waiting for the hearing of the Consitutional Court scheduled for June 9th, the partners of the Media Freedom Rapid Response call to the Court to cancel prison as a punishment for defamation. Qui la versione italiana

Carcere e giornalisti: l'appello del consorzio MFRR alla Consulta - Article

I partner del consorzio Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) si appellano alla Corte Costituzionale Italiana perché consideri incostituzionale la pena del carcere nelle condanne per diffamazione: un primo passo verso una riforma legislativa più ampia che adegui l’Italia agli standard europei

Threatened journalists in Italy - Datasets

423 attacks in 2017 and over 3500 since 2006: Ossigeno per l'Informazione monitors threats to journalists in Italy