ER Editor: This situation puts us in mind of a piece we recently published over journalists at a German state broadcaster taking a slightly different approach to protest the very biased hand that controls them and the public. See —

Journalists at Radiotelevisione Italiana (RAI), Italy’s public broadcaster, went on strike on Monday to protest staff shortages, budget cuts and the refusal to grant fair contracts to those who work on broadcast programs. channel information, or what they call “stifling control” of the government.

The strike against Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government follows the abrupt cancellation of a planned monologue by Italian anti-fascist writer Antonio Scurati to commemorate Italy’s liberation from fascism on April 25 — a decision that, according to some, shows how Rai is on the way to becoming a “government spokesperson” .

“We have always advocated for keeping political parties away from Rai . We contest the Renzi reform, which subjected Rai to the control of successive governments. We hope that the media freedom law will help us in this regard ,” said Daniele Macheda, secretary of USIGRAI, the union representing striking journalists, at a press conference held Monday to explain the reasons for the strike.

USIGRAI denounced political efforts aimed at making Rai “a spokesperson for the government” and highlighted several grievances, including the merger of publications without consultation with unions, the lack of replacement of journalists who leave retired or on maternity leave, the absence of a public selection process for new recruits and the reduction of salaries through the abolition of performance bonuses.

Vittorio di Trapani, a Rai journalist and president of the National Federation of the Italian Press (FNSI), also present at the press conference, said his organization had always fought against all attempts to muzzle freedom of expression , but said that “what has happened in recent months is unprecedented.”

USIGRAI published a video on Sunday explaining the reasons for the strike, but Rai management reacted by accusing the journalists of striking for “ideological and political reasons” which “have nothing to do with the rights of workers”.

Political influence over Rai is a long-standing problem in the country, as its board members are appointed by parliament and the government, and chosen based on their party affiliation. It is also a way for governments to reward their supporters by granting them high-level positions.

CONTINUE READING HERE

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Published to The Liberty Beacon from EuropeReloaded.com

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