Journalists at the Italian news agency AGI have gone on strike for today and Friday following rumors of a sale to a group led by a far-right lawmaker that they say could threaten their independence.
The agency, founded in 1950 and employing around 60 journalists, has been owned since 1965 by energy giant Eni, which “over the years has always shown itself capable (…) of guaranteeing the independence and autonomy of journalists”, it said. statement from the entire editorial board.
“All of these aspects would be at great risk in the event of a possible sale to Angelucci’s publishing group. This possible sale will call into question the guarantee of information pluralism in the country,” they condemn. Italian media put the sale price at around 50 million euros to the group led by MP Antonio Angelucci.
The National Italian Press Federation expressed solidarity with AGI journalists in a statement by its Secretary General Alessandra Costante.
“To remain independent, and for this good reason, information must not be involved in a conflict of interest,” he noted, and when the Minister of Economy, who controls Eni, is also a member of the League, led by the current Deputy Prime Minister, the Italian Minister and the Minister of Infrastructure and transport by Matteo Salvini.
Eni, contacted by news agency AFP, admitted it had received a “spontaneous expression of interest” followed by “preliminary discussions” although “no negotiations are currently taking place”.
The management of AGI and the Angelucci group preferred to refrain from commenting.
MP since 2008, Antonio Angelucci, 79, who made his fortune in the health sector and owns clinics and nursing homes for the elderly, already controls three newspapers linked to the right: Il Giornale, Libero and Il Tempo.
He is currently a member of the League (Lega in Italian), one of the three parties that make up the coalition supporting Georgia Meloni’s far-right government.
Opposition parties have already spoken out against the possibility of a sale to the Angelucci group.
Ellie Schlein, leader of the Democratic Party (the moderate left and main opposition force), considered “the possibility of selling AGI to a League member who already owns several newspapers” very serious.
Antonio Caso and Luca Pirondini, MPs from the 5 Star Movement (defined as populist), also condemned “the threat to press freedom and the independence of one of the largest Italian news agencies.”
There are nine news agencies in Italy, all owned by private groups except the main agency Ansa, a cooperative formed by 28 groups representing 42 newspapers.
Italy ranks a rather respectable 41st in the non-governmental organization (NGO) Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which assesses press freedom in 180 countries.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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