Italy to honour journalists killed in the course of their work with a national day on 3 May.
Italy has established a national day of remembrance for journalists killed in the course of their professional duties, following unanimous final approval by the senate on Wednesday.
The law sets 3 May as the annual date of commemoration of journalists killed as a result of their work – including reporting about organised crime or from war zones – to coincide with World Press Freedom Day.
The bill was originally introduced by Paolo Emilio Russo, a deputy from the centre-right Forza Italia party, and had already been passed unanimously by the lower house last July.
What it involves
Under the new law, the state, regional authorities, metropolitan cities and municipalities may promote specific initiatives, public events and other activities aimed at upholding press freedom and recognising the role of journalism.
Universities, schools of journalism and educational institutions may promote teaching initiatives to commemorate journalists who were killed as a result of their work, and dedicate a specific lesson to Article 21 of the Italian Constitution, which enshrines freedom of the press.
Institutional campaigns may also be held to counter hate speech and threats directed against women journalists, including actions aimed at shaming a person on account of their physical appearance.
The law also provides that the public broadcaster will be required to dedicate airtime to the stories of fallen journalists.
Commenting on the vote, deputy Russo called the unanimous approval “a particularly significant signal of attention to a profession that has made a valuable contribution to our democracy” as well as “a tribute to those who sacrificed their lives to defend citizens’ right to be informed”.
FNSI
The national journalists’ union, the Federazione Nazionale della Stampa Italiana (FNSI), welcomed the law but coupled its thanks with a pointed reminder.
Secretary-general Alessandra Costante stated that the FNSI honours and remembers fallen journalists at all times, but urged parliament to address long-standing, still-unresolved issues facing living journalists.
She said these include “fair pay, having to contend with widespread precarious employment and incomes below the poverty line; and for years, among other things, [journalists] have been waiting for the abolition of prison sentences for defamation lawsuits and a rule against frivolous lawsuits, a gag on press freedom.”
