When effective rules exist to guarantee internal democratic practices, democratic freedom is more likely to be safeguarded, and democracy promoted. In the Italian news media sector, the requirement of impartiality and objectivity is regulated by the Testo Unico dei Doveri del Giornalista [Consolidated Text of the Journalist’s Duties]. Approved in January 2016, it stems from the need to harmonise previous documents dealing with deontological issues. Several principles derive from previous laws. For example, the professional law 69/1963, which regulates journalistic practices in Italy, establishing the obligation for journalists to “respect the substantive truth of the facts observed” (Republic of Italy, 1963: art. 2). Inaccurate information must be corrected and violation of those rules entails disciplinary sanctions. This is the case, for example, when journalists are guilty of facts that do not conform to their professional dignity or facts that compromise the reputation of the Ordine dei Giornalisti[Order of Journalists] (Republic of Italy, 1963: art. 48).
For the public broadcasting service RAI, rules concerning pluralism, completeness, independence, and impartiality of information are prescribed by state laws and controlled by Agcom, and sanctions are prescribed.
A recent study involving Italian journalists from different news organisations[i] has shown the value of several principles linked to impartiality. For example, concerning professional role orientations, the journalists interviewed found it most important to report “things as they are” and “to be a detached observer” (Splendore, 2016).
As far as newsroom councils are concerned, all news media outlets with at least ten journalists must have a council, even if their function is sometimes limited to formal consultations or providing preliminary opinions. If the number of professional journalists is under ten, a trustee is to be put in place to perform the same tasks.
According to the Contratto Nazionale di Lavoro Giornalistico [National Journalistic Employment Contract] (FIEG & FNSI, 2014: art. 6), the appointment of the editor-in-chief is the responsibility of the publisher, who communicates the decision to the newsroom council at least 24 hours before its establishment. Furthermore, the editor-in-chief appoints caporedattori [managing editors] as well as the vicecaporedattore [deputy managing editor]. Among the news media considered in the present study, an exception is represented by the designation of the editor-in-chief of the public newscast Tg1, who is appointed by the management board of the public service broadcaster RAI. The board is composed of seven members, four elected by the Parliament, two by the government, while the seventh one is chosen by RAI’s employees. It is important to note that the configuration of RAI’s management board is defined as follows:
[To] facilitate the presence of both sexes and an adequate balance between members characterised by high professionalism and proven experience in the legal, financial, industrial and cultural fields as well as taking into account the authoritativeness required by the appointment, the absence of conflicts of interest or ownership of positions in competing companies. (RAI, 2016: art. 21)
Apart from this statement on the gender balance to be ensured in the composition of RAI’s management board, there are no specific rules to support the careers of female journalists and their access to managerial positions. Finally, there is no system to monitor the presence and participation of women in decision-making at all levels.
[i] In particular, 36.6 per cent worked for daily print media, 5.6 per cent for weekly newspapers, 7.3 per cent for magazines, 17.7 per cent for private or public television, 14.9 per cent for private or public radio, 6.1 per cent for news agencies, 6.6 per cent for online newsrooms of traditional media, and 5.3 per cent for stand-alone online news sites.
