Personal Interest Project post-study abroad in Florence, Italy on the "State of Freedom of the Press in Italy - How Much Impact Does Berlusconi Really Have?" by Amanda Marie Goldston, Spring 2010

1. The State of Freedom of the Press in
Italy: How Much Impact Does
Berlusconi Have?
Amanda Walsh

2. Overview:
-estimated net worth by Forbes 2009
= $6.5 billion
-owner of AC Milan
-Forza Italia
-political party founded by Berlusconi in 1993
-1st became Prime Minister in 1994
-People of Freedom Party (PDL)
-incorporates Forza Italia and Gianfranco Fini’s National Alliance
Berlusconi: Billionaire & Prime Minister

3. Berlusconi’s Laws
Laws:
-Lodo Schifani
-June 22nd 2003
= 4 highest state posts “cannot be subject to criminal
prosecution for any offense also on events preceding the
taking of office or function until the termination thereof”
-declared unconstitutional in 2004
-Lodo Alfano
= Law #124/2008
= law suspending criminal proceedings for
the highest State posts
-violated Articles 3 and 138 of Constitution
-Decision #262 published on
Oct 19th 2009

4. Media Ownership:
-Mediaset
= Italy’s biggest media empire
-comprises half national viewing audience through 3 tv
channels
-owns Publitalia
-Arnoldo Mondadori Editore
-Fininvest
-has 150+ companies under its umbrella
-Brother, Paolo, owns Il Giornale
-Wife,Veronica, partially owns Il Foglio
Berlusconi’s Media Ownership

5. Berlusconi’s Fun Quotes
“Out of love for Italy, I felt I had to save it from
the left.”
“I don’t need to go into office for the power. I
have houses all over the world, stupendous
boats… beautiful airplanes, a beautiful wife, a
beautiful family… I am making a sacrifice.”
“I am the Jesus Christ of politics . I am a patient victim, I put up with
everyone, I sacrifice myself for everyone.“
After 9/11:
“We must be aware of the superiority of our
civilization, a system that has guaranteed
well-being, respect for human rights and – in
contrast with Islamic countries – respect for
religious and political rights…”

6. Editto Bulgaro:
“L’uso che Biagi --- come se chaima quell’altro…? Santoro, ma l’altro… Luttazzi–
hanno fatto della televisione pubblica, pagata coi soldi di tutti, e un uso crimonoso. E io
credo che sia un preciso dovere da parte della nuova dirigenza di non permettere piu che
questo avvenga.”
Accused of making criminal use of the public television service:
Enzo Biagi->
-RAI news broadcaster
-criticized Berlusconi during 2001 election campaign
-“If I don’t enter politics, I’m going to jail and into bankruptcy”
–Berlusconi confessed to Biagi
Daniele Luttazzi->
-host of Satyricon, a late night comedy show
-interviewed author Marco Travaglio
-exposed Berlusconi’s links with the mafia
Michele Santoro->
-host of Shoeshine
-RAI sued 6 times by Forza Italia
Journalists Fired

7. Monster of Florence by Preston & Spezi
general overview
-The “Monster of Florence” case is a series of 8
double homicides that was never solved
-Some police theories include: satanic sects
murdering for body parts for use in cult-like
rituals; the SardinianTrail, in which members of
a “gang” from Sardinia are responsible for the
killings; and the more probable cause based on
forensic psychological evidence, a lone
impotent serial killer.

8. -Arrested on the orders of Giuliano Mignini
-Denied access to a lawyer and was incommunicado for five days while in prison
-The authorities that arrested Spezi showed no warrant and they did not explain
why or where they were taking him
-charges include:
-defaming Perugia prosecutors through the media
-attempting to sidetrack an official murder
probe by plotting to plant evidence
-murdering a Florentine doctor in 1985
-potentially being the actual “Monster of Florence”
-Defense motion to release Spezi during the investigation
was denied
-Spezi himself believes he was arrested in an attempt by the
Italian authorities to discredit his book with Preston
which was set to be published in the near future
Spezi – 23 Days in Jail

9. Country Global
Rank
Rating Free?
Denmark #4 11 Free
US #24 18 Free
UK &
Canada
#27 19 Free
France #38 22 Free
Italy #73 32 Partly Free
China #181 85 Not Free
What DoesThis Mean About Freedom
of the Press in Italy?
Freedom House Freedom of the
Press Rankings:
-Based on 3 Categories of Questions:
1) Legal -> laws and regulations that
restrict media’s ability to operate
2) Political -> control over content of
news media
3) Economical -> structure of media
ownership
-why Italy is now Partly Free:
-limits by courts and libel laws
-increased intimidation of journalists
by organized crime and far-right
groups
-concentration of media ownership
Chart of All Countries

10. Committee to Protect Journalists:
-"For journalists, working in a climate like this is a very
serious problem…“
-“Journalists should not be fearful to conduct their own investigations into sensitive
matters or to speak openly and criticize officials. In a democratic country such as
your own, one that is an integral part of the European Union, such fear is
unacceptable.”
-“Government efforts to promote this climate of self-censorship are anathema to
democracy.”
How Journalists Feel

11. *Italy is the least free in the European Union
“Berlusconi is on the verge of being added to our list of
Predators to Freedom of the Press. This would be a first
for a European leader.”
Reporters Without Borders
-in 2003, RWB conducted a search into the state of
Freedom of the Press in Italy
-concentration of so much political and
broadcasting power in one man’s hands has
unfortunately lead to a downward trend in
regards to freedom of the press and expression

12. -NoBDay = No Berlusconi Day
-Dec 5th 2009
-”his position in it makes him hostile to every
freedom of expression, as demonstrated
by his recent attacks against the free
press, satirists and the internet”
-organizers claim 1 million attended, police
claim only 90,ooo attended.
-real estimates indicate that at least 500,000
people attended in Rome alone
-NoBDay began online here
-an example of Italians being able to
mobilize themselves solely through the
internet and social networking sites
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TRXuIttX0g&featu
re=player_embedded#! 1:06
No Berlusconi Day!

13. -New law proposed by Berlusconi
-would “require Internet service providers to remove content the state
deems is in violation of copyright law, or face a fine of up to $210,000”
if passed
-”It amounts to destroying the entire Internet system”
–Google’s European Affairs Chief
-this would treat online content sharing sites
likeTV broadcasting programs
-Conviction of 4 Google Italy executives for violation of privacy
-the verdict is “an attack on online freedom and the fundamental principles that
are at the basis of the Internet.”
-ruling could force prior moderating and authorization on YouTube or totally block
access to YouTube in Italy
-Facebook asked to shut down 2 anti-Berlusconi fan pages
-Let’s Kill Berlusconi
-praise for the mentally ill man that attacked Berlusconi with a small statue
Recent Attack on the Internet

14. -Freedom House main causes of
Partly Free Italy throughout the years:
-concentration of media ownership
-print media
-broadcasting media
-independent media institutions
threatened by government interference
-monopoly over advertising revenues
Is Berlusconi Responsible for the State
of Freedom of the Press? Year Rating Free?
1996 30 Free
1997 27 Free
1998 27 Free
1999 28 Free
2000 27 Free
2001 27 Free
2002 27 Free
2003 28 Free
2004 33 Partly Free
2005 35 Partly Free
2006 35 Partly Free
2007 29 Free
2008 29 Free
2009 32 Partly Free
RedYear = Berlusconi Prime Minister
Yellow = Year Italy Partly Free

15. -Historical Tradition of Freedom of the Press in Italy:
-Freedom of the Press & Speech constitutionally guaranteed
-Italy only became Partly Free in 2004
-after Berlusconi became Prime Minister
-Italy’s rating changed back to Free in 2007 due to Berlusconi’s exit from
position of Prime Minister
-though private broadcasting still monopolized, RAI no longer
under Berlusconi’s control
-overseeing RAI is one of the Prime Minister’s
responsibilities
Conclusion:
State of Freedom of the Press in Italy-
Berlusconi IS to Blame