Rai’s investigation into the Scurati case is not closed. But in the meantime the company has sent a letter of disciplinary complaint to the presenter Serena Bortone for the post published on its social profiles, with which denounced censorship of the monologue by the management.
This is what emerged yesterday in the CEO’s hearing Roberto Sergio and the general manager Giampaolo Rossi in the Supervisory Commission, while the agencies were already reporting the news on Bortone, spread by Usigrai who speaks of an “unacceptable” fact, and the opposition arose. «It is not a disciplinary measure – explained the CEO – but a request for explanations”. Sergio, claiming that the company has suffered «a reputational damage», said the letter is a “due act” because there is a ban on spreading “company activities, news and facts”. «A rule that applies to everyone, even me» comments Rossi.
As for theaccusation of censorshipaccording to the ad «neither participation nor reading of the monologue was prohibited of Scurati”. Who would have been proposed free participation because “on promotion”. Proof would be that «on the morning of the broadcast both the train tickets and the hotel were confirmed». The explanations did not convince the opposition. Angelo Bonelli (Avs) asked Bortone’s hearingStefano Graziano (Pd) contested the reconstruction of the facts.
The Usigrai strike was also among the topics of the hearing. On this point Rossi reported that some journalists who did not go on strike, in particular news presenters, such as Laura Chimentiwere made the subject of «attacks and death threats” on the web and “also in a public manner”. The director then rejected the accusations that the leaders organized the boycott of the strike, speaking of “spontaneous participation” and recalling the existence of the right not to strike based on a constitutional ruling of ’69. Rossi, in underlining that for the first time, alongside the right to strike, the right to information was also guaranteed, counted the 56% support for the strike on the entire workforce and others 71% for journalists on duty.
The CEO and the CEO then wanted to respond on the merits of the trade union issues (Usigrai will be called to a hearing) raised, specifying that the company is adapting the performance bonus of journalists to that of other employees. Then, responding toaccused of giving more space to the majority, the CEO cited data fromPavia Observatory which would deny it.
The vindication of the results achieved in one year of mandate was long, accompanied by the denunciation of “the destructive fury of which Rai is the victim” through fake news. When questioned about the audience figures, the leaders confirmed the primacy of generalist networks (but excluding thematic channels).
At the end of the audition, Sergio said he asked the director Stefano Coletta to insert Insiders, Roberto Saviano’s program in the next schedules. The CEO reported that he had responded to requests for documents from the journalist Franco Di Mare, suffering from mesothelioma. Finally, on the case of the shoe advertisement John Travolta in Sanremosaid civil actions have been filed against the actor’s agency and the company that makes the shoes.
