" The state of press freedom in Italy, caught between a reform project and draconian threats Part of the Mafia, it is increasingly worrying for its European neighbors. The grip of mafia gangs on the media sector is strengthening, which forces a large number of journalists to proceed with caution. The return of Silvio Berlusconi the power back to the fore the issue of broadcast media concentration and control of the government. Legislative reform that intends to prohibit the publication of some legal action is incompatible with EU rules democratic. " Journalists to investigate the mafia, particularly in the South, you do so at the risk of his life. About a dozen of them, including Roberto Saviano, Lirio Abbate, Rosanna Capacchione and others living under police protection.
The Italian press may fall victim to a series of reprisals involving burning of cars and their doors of houses, letters of threat and intimidation to their families, all in the form of "consulting" given to those who are bent on exposing what went wrong in Italian society. The grip of mafia groups in the media has become so threatening that in 2009 these groups were added to the list of Reporters Without Borders as "predators of press freedom .
In an abnormal situation within the European Union, the prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi still controls the three channels of public television RAI, as well as the leading privately owned radio and television group Mediaset, increasing political interference in their editorial policies and promotion of self-censorship on the part of a section of the profession. Television, which remains the main source of news for 80% of the population also attracts the part of national advertising revenue. The law enacted by the Italian Minister of Communications, Maurizio Gasparri has lifted all limits on the distribution of advertising revenues, often opening the door to a massive "shift" in favor of national television channels, in particular those belonging to the Berlusconi family.
Those wishing to enter must pass a journalism contest and must become members of a professional body. Defamation remains a criminal offense and the right of access to public or private, is not, in practice respected.
The draft law on the publication of legal action, which is currently under discussion, contains serious threats to investigative journalism, which proposes, inter alia, prohibiting the publication of wiretaps ordered by a prosecutor, until the completion of an investigation. The publication ban also applies to the work of commissions of inquiry. Once the bill was adopted, the journalists would henceforth not be able to inform the public about any arrests, searches or seizures ordered by the courts. Publication of footsteps, conversations or communications - the destruction of which had been ordered by a prosecutor - would be prohibited. A journalist or media in violation of the secret would face a prison sentence or heavy fine and a three-month ban on exercising their profession.
Source: http://www.rsf.org/
