Journalists of the Italian state radio station RAI went on a one-day strike today in protest of budget cuts, alleged censorship and media repression under the government of Prime Minister Djordje Meloni.
Journalists of RAI television and radio are also protesting the hiring freeze, dismissal and reorganization of staff. They say that these moves have the ultimate goal of "RAI becoming the megaphone of the government".
RAI, which controls all three public TV channels in Italy, said in response to the strike that it does not question any rights or jobs of current staff and that it is "committed to protecting the values of pluralism and freedom of expression."
The strike comes just days after international NGO Reporters Without Borders (RSF) downgraded Italy five places in its annual press freedom index. Now ranked 46th out of 180 countries, Italy has moved into the "problem" country category along with Poland and Hungary.
RSF also cited reports of a proposed acquisition of another Italian news agency, AGI, by lawmakers from the League party, a coalition partner in Meloni's right-wing government, which already controls three conservative dailies.
RAI was recently embroiled in controversy over alleged censorship when it abruptly canceled a planned monologue by an anti-fascist writer that was scheduled to be broadcast on April 25, when Italy celebrates Liberation Day from Fascism.
The monologue was highly critical of Meloni, whose party has its roots in the Italian neo-fascist movement.
RAI then announced that it had canceled the broadcast of the monologue for financial reasons.
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