Lucia Annunziata
Encyclopedia
Lucia Annunziata is an Italian
journalist
.
(in the Salerno
province), at the age of 13 she moved to Salerno, where she attended high school and university, obtaining a degree in History
and Philosophy
. In 1979 she became a professional journalist, working as a correspondent
from the United States
first for Il Manifesto
, then for La Repubblica
. In 1993 she won an International Fellowship from the Nieman Foundation for Journalism
at Harvard. She then went on to work for the Corriere della Sera
and finally for RAI
(Italy's national public broadcasting company) in 1995 (with the "Linea Tre" program on Rai Tre
); in August 1996 she became executive editor of the TG 3, although she resigned from the job at the end of November. In 2000, she became executive editor of the neonate news agency ApBiscom (subsequently renamed APCOM
).
She became President of RAI on March 13, 2003, and resigned on May 4, 2004; she was the second woman President of RAI (after Letizia Moratti
in 1994). In 2005-2006, she hosted the interview programm In 1/2 h
for Rai Tre, in which she famously interviewed then Prime Minister
Silvio Berlusconi
. Currently, she works as columnist for La Stampa
and as a panelist for The Washington Post
.
, Lucia Annunziata interviewed the then Presidente del Consiglio dei Ministri Silvio Berlusconi, who was running for a second term, on her television program In 1/2 h
(In half an hour). During the interview, she asked pressing questions about the works of Berlusconi's administration, often interrupting the Prime Minister's statements, which annoyed him to the point that he stood up and left the room halfway through the program.
The interview was cut short when Berlusconi stood up and left the room. She later reported that Berlusconi had handed her a list of questions he wanted to be asked, and requested she did not diverge from it during the interview
; however, during the actual program, she did not follow the list and asked pressing questions, often interrupting Silvio Berlusconi's visible attempts at returning on track.
The political control board of RAI accused Annunziata of violating the Par Condicio, since that law states the interviewer should keep to a neutral stance during political interviews. She resigned from her job as executive editor of RAI in protest for Berlusconi's conflict of interest
.
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
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...
.
Career
Born in SarnoSarno
Sarno is a town and comune of Campania, Italy, in the province of Salerno, 20 km northeast from the city of Salerno and 60 km east of Naples by the main railway.-Overview:...
(in the Salerno
Salerno
Salerno is a city and comune in Campania and is the capital of the province of the same name. It is located on the Gulf of Salerno on the Tyrrhenian Sea....
province), at the age of 13 she moved to Salerno, where she attended high school and university, obtaining a degree in History
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
and Philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
. In 1979 she became a professional journalist, working as a correspondent
Correspondent
A correspondent or on-the-scene reporter is a journalist or commentator, or more general speaking, an agent who contributes reports to a newspaper, or radio or television news, or another type of company, from a remote, often distant, location. A foreign correspondent is stationed in a foreign...
from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
first for Il Manifesto
Il Manifesto
il manifesto is an Italian newspaper. While it calls itself communist, it is not connected to any political party. It was founded as a monthly review in 1969 by a collective of left-wing journalists engaged in the wave of critical thought and activity on the Italian left in that period. Prominent...
, then for La Repubblica
La Repubblica
la Repubblica is an Italian daily general-interest newspaper. Founded in 1976 in Rome by the journalist Eugenio Scalfari, as of 2008 is the second largest circulation newspaper, behind the Corriere della Sera.-Foundation:...
. In 1993 she won an International Fellowship from the Nieman Foundation for Journalism
Nieman Foundation for Journalism
The Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University is the primary journalism institution at Harvard. It was founded in 1938 as the result of a $1 million bequest by Agnes Wahl Nieman, the widow of Lucius W. Nieman, founder of The Milwaukee Journal...
at Harvard. She then went on to work for the Corriere della Sera
Corriere della Sera
The Corriere della Sera is an Italian daily newspaper, published in Milan.It is among the oldest and most reputable Italian newspapers. Its main rivals are Rome's La Repubblica and Turin's La Stampa.- History :...
and finally for RAI
RAI
RAI — Radiotelevisione italiana S.p.A. known until 1954 as Radio Audizioni Italiane, is the Italian state owned public service broadcaster controlled by the Ministry of Economic Development. Rai is the biggest television company in Italy...
(Italy's national public broadcasting company) in 1995 (with the "Linea Tre" program on Rai Tre
Rai Tre
Rai 3 is part of RAI, the Italian government broadcasting agency, which owns other channels, such as Rai 1 and Rai 2 . Rai 3 first started transmissions on December 15, 1979. In the eighties it was under the predominant political influence of the Italian Communist Party...
); in August 1996 she became executive editor of the TG 3, although she resigned from the job at the end of November. In 2000, she became executive editor of the neonate news agency ApBiscom (subsequently renamed APCOM
APCOM
APCOM is an important press agencies in Italy.Founded by the Italian journalist Lucia Annunziata in 2001, is based in Rome, Italy and has offices in Budapest, Brussels, Moscow and New York City. Since its foundation has an exclusive partnership with Associated Press for Italy and Switzerland and in...
).
She became President of RAI on March 13, 2003, and resigned on May 4, 2004; she was the second woman President of RAI (after Letizia Moratti
Letizia Moratti
Letizia Brichetto-Arnaboldi Moratti is an Italian businesswoman and politician. She is the former mayor of Milan.-Biography:...
in 1994). In 2005-2006, she hosted the interview programm In 1/2 h
In 1/2 h
In ½ h is an Italian television talk show hosted by the Italian journalist Lucia Annunziata and is broadcast on Rai Tre every Sunday since 2005 and re-broadcast on Raisat Extra....
for Rai Tre, in which she famously interviewed then Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
Silvio Berlusconi
Silvio Berlusconi
Silvio Berlusconi , also known as Il Cavaliere – from knighthood to the Order of Merit for Labour which he received in 1977 – is an Italian politician and businessman who served three terms as Prime Minister of Italy, from 1994 to 1995, 2001 to 2006, and 2008 to 2011. Berlusconi is also the...
. Currently, she works as columnist for La Stampa
La Stampa
La Stampa is one of the best-known, most influential and most widely sold Italian daily newspapers. Published in Turin, it is distributed in Italy and other European nations. The current owner is the Fiat Group.-History:...
and as a panelist for The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
.
The Berlusconi interview
On March 12, 2006, in the middle of the electoral campaign for the Italian general electionItalian general election, 2006
In the Italian general election, 2006 for the renewal of the two Chambers of the Parliament of Italy held on April 9 and April 10, 2006 the incumbent prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, leader of the center-right House of Freedoms, was narrowly defeated by Romano Prodi, leader of the center-left The...
, Lucia Annunziata interviewed the then Presidente del Consiglio dei Ministri Silvio Berlusconi, who was running for a second term, on her television program In 1/2 h
In 1/2 h
In ½ h is an Italian television talk show hosted by the Italian journalist Lucia Annunziata and is broadcast on Rai Tre every Sunday since 2005 and re-broadcast on Raisat Extra....
(In half an hour). During the interview, she asked pressing questions about the works of Berlusconi's administration, often interrupting the Prime Minister's statements, which annoyed him to the point that he stood up and left the room halfway through the program.
The interview was cut short when Berlusconi stood up and left the room. She later reported that Berlusconi had handed her a list of questions he wanted to be asked, and requested she did not diverge from it during the interview
Interview
An interview is a conversation between two people where questions are asked by the interviewer to obtain information from the interviewee.- Interview as a Method for Qualitative Research:"Definition" -...
; however, during the actual program, she did not follow the list and asked pressing questions, often interrupting Silvio Berlusconi's visible attempts at returning on track.
The political control board of RAI accused Annunziata of violating the Par Condicio, since that law states the interviewer should keep to a neutral stance during political interviews. She resigned from her job as executive editor of RAI in protest for Berlusconi's conflict of interest
Conflict of interest
A conflict of interest occurs when an individual or organization is involved in multiple interests, one of which could possibly corrupt the motivation for an act in the other....
.
External links
- - Column on The Washington Post website (with photograph)
- - Video of the Berlusconi interview from "In 1/2h" (in ItalianItalian languageItalian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
) - - Nieman Fellows, Class of 1993