The echo of the controversy over the Scurati case in Rai has not yet died down (the investigation is still underway, “but there has been no censorship”, CEO Roberto Sergio reiterated), which yesterday new ones have already broken out. The first, raised by Fratelli d’Italia, concerns the historic radio broadcast Radio Me too. The other instead involves once again Reports, which triggered a real diplomatic case with Albania.
TO Radio Me tooon Rai Radio Uno, yesterday the host Giorgio Zanchini, when introducing Senator Ester Mieli (FdI) as a guest, in an episode on the protests in Italian and US universities, asked her if she was Jewish. “But is this a question you ask all the guests?” replied the senator. The journalist replied that he had also asked the previous one, an American professor: “I think the point of view of those who answer is interesting” he clarified. But Mieli rejected the explanation: «My point of view does not change because I am Jewish. Respect applies to everyone and in any case”. Zanchini tried to explain himself better, but in the end he ended the episode abruptly: «I won’t ask again. Enough, I’ll stop.” His apology came later.
The matter ended up in the Rai Supervisory Commission vhe was meeting to decide whether to listen, on 8 May, on the Scurati case, in addition to the leaders of Viale Mazzini, also the presenter Serena Bortone and the director of Insights, Paolo Corsini: a possibility put to the vote and rejected by the majority. It was Augusta Montaruli (FdI) who reported the incident, considering summoning Zanchini. Faced with this, the opposition asked in vain to reconsider the hearing of Corsini and Bortone.
In the meantime, Mieli received Sergio’s apologies and the solidarity of half the government: from Tajani to Sangiuliano, from Valditara to Lollobrigida and Calderone, as well as from the president of the Senate La Russa. The entire formation of the Lega in Vigilance did the same, as did the Italian group leader in the Senate Maurizio Gasparri, Maurizio Lupi (We Moderates) and the Rai Unirai union. But words of comfort also came from members of the opposition, including Francesco Verducci and Lia Quartapelle (Pd), Barbara Floridia (M5S), Carlo Calenda, Mara Carfagna, Mariastella Gelmini and Matteo Richetti (Action), Maria Elena Boschi (Iv ).
In support of Zanchini, to which the director of Rai Radio Uno Francesco Pionati asked for an apology, Usigrai and the Fnsi immediately took the field with the president Vittorio Di Trapani (“A clever case to distract from the censorship of Scurati”). The councilor of the Democratic Party, Francesca Bria, said of Zanchini: «An example of the best public service journalism». Words of solidarity also from the host of ReportsSiegfried Ranucci.
And meanwhile right upReportsthe opposition criticized the protests raised by the Albanian prime minister over an investigation into immigration, which aired last Sunday. The clarification came via telephone, again to Paolo Corsini, in a conversation that Rai wanted to point out was “short and cordial”, denying rumors of an outburst. Rama himself then explained: «I didn’t phone to say that it was a disgusting program, but I phoned to say “I want you to know that in the public service that you direct something happened that I think you should think about: there is no a cross-examination was given and it was said that we did not respond”. But for the opposition it is an undue interference in information. And in the end the CEO Sergio blurts out: «Everything we do is submerged by avalanches of controversies that are often instrumental. It’s unacceptable.”
