Italian media dictate politics

The state-run Italian television broadcaster Rai has suspended TV presenter Michele Santoro for ten days for insulting Rai chairman Mauro Masi. A ridiculous disciplinary measure symptomatic of the alarming phenomenon of militant neo-journalism, writes the liberal-conservative daily Corriere della Sera: "Brawling has taken the place of normal discussion. ... Things have deteriorated to the point where we see pathological behaviour as natural and journalism as a form of political battle. Contempt for those who think differently and aggressiveness as a sign of professional masculinity: this is the monster that is prowling our TV screens and the pages of our newspapers in many different guises. ... For the neo-journalists the decision to have neither friends nor foes ... is not an expression of honesty but of hypocrisy. ... Militant media will no longer need to back the politicians, they will replace them. ... They will cease to follow political developments and start dictating them."

» full article (external link, Italian)
More from the press review on the subject » Media policy, » Media, » Italy
All available articles from » Beppe Severgnini

» To the complete press review of Friday, October 15, 2010