The analogy sometimes used is that of Rupert Murdoch as UK Prime Minister, media empire intact and thriving. Add in ownership of a slew of widely-read glossy weeklies, (in)direct control over news output of two of the three public service TV channels, ownership of three of the four private non-satellite national TV channels. Stir gently for 5 minutes on a low flame. Then sprinkle on political longevity, being first elected as Presidente del Consiglio (Prime Minister) in distant 1994, sharing top table at the (then) G7 with among others Francois Mitterrand, Helmut Kohl and John Major. Serve chilled.
10.30 thursday 14 april
Luigi Contu director ANSA
John Lloyd director Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, University of Oxford
Bruno Manfelloto editor L’espresso
Mario Orfeo editor Il Messaggero, director RAI 2 News until March 2011
Francesco Specchia Libero