Needs and Gaps Brief No. 1: Italy - Article

The first of a series of briefs presenting the results of the forthcoming Needs and Gaps analysis

Curated by Maria Francesca Rita

Italy: Journalists face fresh violence covering ‘green pass’ protests - Article

The undersigned partners of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) are highly concerned about yet another series of violent attacks and threats to journalists and media workers covering protests against the government’s pandemic-related measures across Italy

Journalists in Residence: the program is starting for the second year in Milan - Article

Journalists and media workers active in the UE Member States and Candidate Countries can apply for support to the program JiR Milan: within the second year of the Media Freedom Rapid Response, OBC Transeuropa and QCode Mag will host a journalist in distress, offering training, covering travel and lodging expenses and promoting their professional skills

Rule of Law Report 2021: OBCT submission for Italy, Croatia and Bulgaria - Article

The European Commission has published the Rule of Law Report 2021, consisting in the summary of the stakeholders' consultation. OBCT submitted a 13-page report answering questions related to the situation in Italy, Croatia and Bulgaria

Italy: Access to information law should not override protection of journalistic sources - Article

On 18 June 2021, the Administrative Court of Lazio (TAR Lazio) ordered the Italian Media Public Broadcaster (RAI) to release documents held by TV Program Report following an access to information request

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

ENI's abuse of SLAPPs: a letter to the European Commission - Article

Together with several ngos, we co-signed a letter to the European Commission highlighting the need for the upcoming European Commission’s initiative on SLAPPs to include a legislative proposal for an anti-SLAPP Directive that will protect all watchdogs from SLAPPs and legal intimidation tactics, currently used extensively by fossil fuel companies in Europe. On this occasion, the attention goes to the use of SLAPPs by the partly government-owned Italian oil company Eni Spa (“Eni”), who is suing the Italian paper Il Fatto Quotidiano for 29 articles on the company's activities.

Italy: wiretapping of journalists reporting on migration must be investigated - Article

The Media Freedom Rapid Response and partner organisations welcome the launch of an investigation into the wiretapping of journalists and their sources in Sicily. However, a robust, swift and systematic investigation will be essential for rebuilding trust and ensuring that all journalists, sources and legal professionals in Italy are protected

Italy: Nello Scavo and too many unanswered questions. An article for Mapping Media Freedom - Article

The platform Mapping Media Freedom hosts an article by the Italian journalist Nello Scavo, under police protection for threats received after the publication of his investigations about the traffic of human beings in Libya

Scholars at Risk: the first event - Article

On 15 October at 5 pm, a discussion about academics and freedom of expression with three women engaged in research and risking their life