It’s not a story of colleagues who can’t stand each other and don’t get along in the workplace. The narrative that emerges from the investigation documents speaks of retaliation And spite particularly unpleasant. Episodes that the Turin Prosecutor’s Office now describes as stalking and abuse of office and bring to the dock a former central editor of Rai, Tarcisio Mazzeo, 67 years old (now retired). While the victim of these alleged abuses is the journalist Michele Ruggierowho was reportedly forced to resign from the public broadcaster in March 2021.
The facts contested by pm Gianfranco Colace they cover the period between October 2017 and March 2021 and have as theater the Piedmontese editorial team of the news of Rai. The investigation, which started from Ruggiero’s complaint (assisted bylawyer Michela Malerba), explores the political and professional dynamics of the world of broadcast journalism.
The magistrate reprimands Mazzeo violations of constitutional principles (such as the right to health and impartiality), of workers’ statute and internal Rai circulars. Starting with demotion by Ruggiero: the latter, a journalist expert in political and judicial reporting, would have lost his sector of expertise at any moment to be classified as a generic “available” editor, without his professional specialization being taken into consideration .
The reason for this step back in his career, according to the victim’s complaint (in the proceedings), was a sort of political revenge: essentially, Ruggiero said that he had been accused of treating the reports concerning the center-left with too much emphasis; and to use tones «excessive» – in the negative – for those linked to the Five Stars movement and in particular to the judicial affair of the former press office of the Municipality Luca Pasquaretta, who in that period (2018) was under investigation for embezzlement and extortion against the mayor Chiara Appendino (the latter charge from which the Lucanian journalist was acquitted).
The central editor would not have limited himself to demoting his colleague, but would have used «retaliatory and specious” one’s “disciplinary power». On several occasions, Ruggiero was accused of having refused or not having completed the assigned journalistic report. And again, Mazzeo allegedly demonstrated “continuous conduct” towards the journalist – we read in the indictment – denigrating and demeaning his personal and professional dignity». Ruggiero’s health problems (which worsen), not taken into consideration in the organization of work shifts, are part of this climate of tension. Hence the accusation against Mazzeo, defended by the lawyer Maurizio Mascia.
