Almerigo Grilz
Encyclopedia
Almerigo Grilz was an Italian
right wing politician, and an independent war correspondent
.
He was born in Trieste
, then Zone A of the Free Territory of Trieste
, now administrated by Italy
. During his youth, he was a leader of the nationalist right wing Youth Front (Fronte della gioventù) and of the in the Italian Social Movement
– National Right of Trieste. He was a member of the City Council of Trieste. In 1977, Almerigo Grilz was the leader of Trieste section of the Youth Front, becoming the Deputy National Secretary by a direct appointment of then secretary Gianfranco Fini
. During this time he was also a member of the Journalist
order of Trieste and cooperated with the Dissenso, the official journal of the Youth Front.
; the conflicts between Druses and Christian Maronites
; and the Myanmar-Thailand border war between Keren minority and Myanmar regulars. His reportages were sold all over the world and bought by CBS
, France 3 and NBC
. These important networks would subsequently hire Grilz as correspondent in other parts of the world. On a direct NBC request Grilz followed the Communist Philippine Guerrilla and the elections that led to the fall of the late Philippines dictator Ferdinand Marcos
and the subsequent election of Corazon Aquino
.
The agency sold a lot of its productions to foreign television networks, in particular in US and UK; also in Italy Albatros managed to sell its products to important networks, such a the Panorama weekly magazine and the Italian 1st TV channel news or TG Uno, this despite the high prejudice of the major Italian network for those who were considered culturally close to the MSI-DN right-wing party.
, while witnessing a battle between “Renamo’s” militiamen and the regular Army, Grilz was struck by a stray bullet. His body was never recovered and he was buried close to where he was killed.
The news of Almerigo Griltz’s death, due the already cited prejudice, did not echo loudly in the Italian press world. Only in the late 90’ he would be listed as an Italian press agent, fallen in war zone
.
The “ Unità” the communist official newspaper wrote of the death of a “mercenary” when referring to Grilz
An exception was Tg Uno which, thanks to Paolo Frajese, remembered Grilz even against the opinion of directors; Renato Farina, a writer for the weekly magazine “Il Sabato”, and Ettore Mo, also a special correspondent in the hot spots for the major Italian newspaper
“Corriere della Sera” and a fellow journalist who went to various world hot spots, remembered the death and life of Almerigo Grilz.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
right wing politician, and an independent war correspondent
War correspondent
A war correspondent is a journalist who covers stories firsthand from a war zone. In the 19th century they were also called Special Correspondents.-Methods:...
.
He was born in Trieste
Trieste
Trieste is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is situated towards the end of a narrow strip of land lying between the Adriatic Sea and Italy's border with Slovenia, which lies almost immediately south and east of the city...
, then Zone A of the Free Territory of Trieste
Free Territory of Trieste
The Free Territory of Trieste was to be a city-state situated in Central Europe between northern Italy and Yugoslavia, created by the United Nations Security Council in the aftermath of World War II and provisionally administered by an appointed military governor commanding the peacekeeping United...
, now administrated by Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. During his youth, he was a leader of the nationalist right wing Youth Front (Fronte della gioventù) and of the in the Italian Social Movement
Italian Social Movement
The Italian Social Movement , and later the Italian Social Movement–National Right , was a neo-fascist and post-fascist political party in Italy. Formed in 1946 by supporters of former Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, the party became the fourth largest party in Italy by the early 1960s...
– National Right of Trieste. He was a member of the City Council of Trieste. In 1977, Almerigo Grilz was the leader of Trieste section of the Youth Front, becoming the Deputy National Secretary by a direct appointment of then secretary Gianfranco Fini
Gianfranco Fini
Gianfranco Fini is an Italian politician, President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, leader of the center-right Future and Freedom party, and the former leader of the conservative National Alliance and the post-fascist Italian Social Movement...
. During this time he was also a member of the Journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
order of Trieste and cooperated with the Dissenso, the official journal of the Youth Front.
Politician and war journalist
Beside politics, Grilz was involved in journalism, especially as freelance war correspondent. In the mid 1980s he became a full time freelance war journalist, resigning his seat in the Trieste City Council. His job kept him away from home for 10 months a year. He witnessed all the conflicts from mid 70’s, from the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan to the Israeli’s operation in LebanonLebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
; the conflicts between Druses and Christian Maronites
Maronites
Maronites , is an ethnoreligious group in the Middle East that have been historically tied with Lebanon. They derive their name from the Syriac saint Mar Maron whose followers moved to Mount Lebanon from northern Syria establishing the Maronite Church....
; and the Myanmar-Thailand border war between Keren minority and Myanmar regulars. His reportages were sold all over the world and bought by CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
, France 3 and NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
. These important networks would subsequently hire Grilz as correspondent in other parts of the world. On a direct NBC request Grilz followed the Communist Philippine Guerrilla and the elections that led to the fall of the late Philippines dictator Ferdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos, Sr. was a Filipino leader and an authoritarian President of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He was a lawyer, member of the Philippine House of Representatives and a member of the Philippine Senate...
and the subsequent election of Corazon Aquino
Corazon Aquino
Maria Corazon Sumulong Cojuangco-Aquino was the 11th President of the Philippines and the first woman to hold that office in Philippine history. She is best remembered for leading the 1986 People Power Revolution, which toppled Ferdinand Marcos and restored democracy in the Philippines...
.
The Albatros press agency
In 1983 together with Gian Micalessin and Fausto Biloslavo, he founded the “Albatros Press Agency”. This agency would produce reportages, documentaries and articles, from every part of the world, where revolutions and war were fought.The agency sold a lot of its productions to foreign television networks, in particular in US and UK; also in Italy Albatros managed to sell its products to important networks, such a the Panorama weekly magazine and the Italian 1st TV channel news or TG Uno, this despite the high prejudice of the major Italian network for those who were considered culturally close to the MSI-DN right-wing party.
Death
On May 19, 1987 in MozambiqueMozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
, while witnessing a battle between “Renamo’s” militiamen and the regular Army, Grilz was struck by a stray bullet. His body was never recovered and he was buried close to where he was killed.
The news of Almerigo Griltz’s death, due the already cited prejudice, did not echo loudly in the Italian press world. Only in the late 90’ he would be listed as an Italian press agent, fallen in war zone
War Zone
A war zone is a location of military conflict, but the term may also refer to:* War Zone , a 1998 documentary about street harassment* The War Zone, a 1999 film starring Ray Winstone...
.
The “ Unità” the communist official newspaper wrote of the death of a “mercenary” when referring to Grilz
An exception was Tg Uno which, thanks to Paolo Frajese, remembered Grilz even against the opinion of directors; Renato Farina, a writer for the weekly magazine “Il Sabato”, and Ettore Mo, also a special correspondent in the hot spots for the major Italian newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
“Corriere della Sera” and a fellow journalist who went to various world hot spots, remembered the death and life of Almerigo Grilz.