Journalists at Italy's state-run RAI have initiated a 24-hour strike to protest budget cuts and what they perceive as a growing repressive environment for media under the leadership of Premier Giorgia Meloni. This strike is part of a series of demonstrations by Italian journalists who are concerned about threats to press freedom and expression in the country, including criminal investigations of journalists and suspected incidents of censorship.
RAI, which oversees Italy's three main public TV channels, is undergoing a transformation into a modern digital media company and has implemented measures such as hiring freezes and job reorganization. The company has assured that it is not jeopardizing the rights or jobs of current staff and remains committed to upholding values of pluralism and freedom of expression.
Italy's press freedom ranking recently dropped in the annual index by Reporters Without Borders, placing the country in the 'problematic' category alongside other EU members like Poland and Hungary. Concerns have been raised over the proposed acquisition of Italian news agency AGI by a lawmaker from the League party, a coalition partner in Meloni's right-wing government.
Journalists at RAI are protesting against company budget cuts, including job eliminations and staff reorganization, fearing that these measures aim to diminish RAI's independence and turn it into a government mouthpiece. The cancellation of a planned monologue critical of Meloni and the alleged censorship incident have further fueled concerns about media freedom in Italy.
Politicians and business figures in Italy have been criticized for using defamation lawsuits and criminal complaints to silence investigative reporting. Recent instances include the editor of Domani newspaper being summoned for questioning by Italy's anti-mafia parliamentary commission and three Domani journalists facing criminal investigations for their reporting on Meloni's defense minister.
