The International Federation of Journalists' (IFJ) regional body in Europe has raised concerns over what it calls a "monstrous and dangerous" new media law in Italy that will endanger pluralism and reinforce media concentration.

The European Federation of Journalists says the "Legge Gasparri," adopted by the Italian parliament on 3 April and awaiting senate approval, will allow cross-ownership between newspapers and national television channels, including parts of the public broadcaster RAI.

EFJ says the law will allow Italian prime minister and media tycoon Silvio Berlusconi to expand his already substantial commercial interests. A recent EFJ study of media concentration in Europe says Berlusconi effectively owns 90 per cent of Italian television viewership.

The prime minister owns three television channels which have a combined 45% audience share of the market and control over 60% of total advertising sales in the country. Eighty two per cent of Italians depend only on television for news, EFJ notes.

Access the EFJ Study on media concentration here:
www.ifj.org


Visit these links:

- IFJ Campaign to Save Public Broadcasting in Italy:
www.save-public-broadcasting.org


- International Press Institute 2002 World Press Freedom Review:
www.freemedia.at


- Index on Censorship:
www.indexonline.org


- Media Channel on Media Concentration:
www.mediachannel.org