AUDIOVISUAL POLICY: DRAFT ITALIAN MEDIA BILL SEEN AS THREAT TO PLURALISM.

• Position: Brief Article

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has spoken out against a media bill going through the Italian Parliament, arguing that it represents a "danger to pluralism". In a statement published in Brussels on April 10, the IFJ expresses its fears that "adoption of this new media bill will further endanger pluralism". The text amends media anti-trust legislation and sows the seeds for the progressive privatisation of the public audiovisual service RAI. "This is a scandalous and dangerous legal development which strengthens media concentration and undermines pluralism throughout Europe", according to Gustl Glattfelder, Chairman of the European Federation of Journalists, a regional IFJ organisation. "When made-to-measure laws permit media magnates like Silvio Berlusconi to use their position" - Mr Berlusconi is head of the Italian Government - "to extend their own commercial interests, this also represents a serious threat to democracy", he added.

In a secret ballot on...