**RAI OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCES THE BOYCOTTING OF THE JOURNALISTS’ STRIKE**
Hours of tension in Rai, where the union rift has led to a substantial halving of the strike announced by UsigRai. As we have reported, in fact, most of the main journalistic editorial staff at the public service broadcaster have effectively boycotted the strike announced in recent days by the union representing journalists, in open protest against government influence on Rai programs. Tg1, Tg2, and RaiNews essentially presented a normal format in the lunchtime editions of May 6th, despite the final reading of the press release.
**ENRICA AGOSTINI’S WORDS**
In the same hours, a conference was held at the Foreign Press Association by UsigRai and FNSI with guests Serena Bortone and Sigfrido Ranucci, to respond to the company that has denied any possibility of censorship. Among the interventions was also that of journalist Enrica Agostini, a member of the RaiNews Editorial Board, who spoke out against the strong pressures faced by reporters: “The fact that today in Rai a small group of people is trying to broadcast the news gives the sense that there is a political issue at stake. We fight for rights. They fight political battles to defend privileges that they are currently enjoying, legitimized by Rai executives and directors. I have been in the RaiNews24 editorial board and working in politics for 20 years, but I have never suffered the pressures and censorship that I am experiencing now.”
Agostini then explained: “We did not report on Lollobrigida on the train until after the UsigRai note, we did not report on Giambruno and his statements until many hours after the Editorial Board took action. We did not report on Gratteri. This is daily. I thank the colleagues who withdrew their signatures on many reports because what we need to do is certainly open reports with Giorgia Meloni, of whom the Telegraph says she is a great stateswoman. Today at RaiNews24 it emerged that the director is trying to coordinate 15-20 people in order to broadcast the news with shifts changes, double shifts, people doing double tasks at the moment. This is happening in Rai and will happen cascading to other places, unfortunately, the fact that politics no longer wants dialogue with questions. We broadcast self-produced videos of pure propaganda and this only happens with the right, not with the left.”
She added: “I have been in this company for 25 years and have never been supported by anyone, we must take back our dignity that is often lacking. Let’s say it. In the morning I arrive at Montecitorio and have to discuss the line by bargaining the word to put in the story. And they don’t do it with me because I am an old jerk, but there are younger colleagues who can’t say no, we need to help them. Going on like this, probably, our colleagues who have been promoted to RaiNews24 and are doing two tasks could also become directors, but there will no longer be a company.”
**USIGRAI AGAINST TG1 AND TG2 AIRING REGULARLY**
Meanwhile, regarding the regular broadcasts of Tg1 and Tg2, UsigRai clarified: “In an attempt to boycott the strike proclaimed by UsigRai – which the vast majority of journalists at Rai have adhered to – the directors of Tg1 and Tg2, with an anti-union spirit, have decided to broadcast the 1.30 pm editions with unusually long reports and connections to reach the longest possible duration (still lower than usual). The truth is that in doing so they have almost completely removed entire stories and news such as crime and economics. Deceiving citizens to disguise the failure of the boycott. In an attempt to give the impression that the strike had failed, Tg1 and Tg2 directors concentrated the few working people in a single edition, skipping the others. For example, at Tg2, out of an expected schedule of 135 minutes, only 26 minutes were broadcast. At Tg1, out of 186 minutes, only 28. Evidently, we are not the ones spreading fake news.”
Continue reading on Fanpage.it