A new law has been proposed by Ricardo Franco Levi, undersecretary to the President of the Council in Italy, and was approved by the Council of Ministers on 12 October. The proposed law states that anyone with a blog or a website has to register it with the ROC (Registro degli Operatori della Comunicazione), a register of the Communications Authority, produce certificates, and pay a tax, even if they provide information without any intention to make money.
The law has to be passed by Italian Parliament, but it’s causing something of a storm. The website Blognation has asked a variety of Italian players in the blog world for their reaction. Needless to say they are not impressed. Marco Montemagno, co-founder of Blogosfere and a well known presenter on Sky 24’s popular TV show, Reporter Diffuso, said “Technically it’s madness; theoretically, it’s an embarrassment.”
Andrea Toso, new media expert and blogger, said: “This just highlights a general problem of Italian political culture, politics surrounding the Internet and the dynamics of online editorial. An obvious example to cite is the case of Italia.it, which showed an outdated communications strategy unconnected with real life - in particular social media. Levi has made a huge mistake not because he wanted to put blogs under threat, but because he just hadn’t thought of blogs or other forms of free publishing when drafting the bill.”
Beppe Grillo used to be a comedian, but now mostly reveals interesting things some people don’t want to hear on his website. He was one of the first Italian bloggers to comment on the proposed law, and says “If the law gets passed, it’ll be the end of the Internet in Italy. My blog won’t close. If I have to, I’ll transfer lock stock, barrel and server to a democratic State.”
Folllowing the intial outcry from Grillo and others, Levi claimed that it has yet to be decided whether ordinary bloggers will fall within the remit of the law or not. The confusion arises from the use of the term ‘editorial products’, and a lack of clarity about exactly what that means.
It seems likely that the law will be re-drafted to make its intentions clearer, but Media Network contributor David de Jong, who closely follows media developments in Italy, notes that “journalism in Italy is not a free occupation. You have to obtain a state diploma and be admitted to the journalists’ association. And while you get advantages, you can also be punished if you do things against the rules of the association.”
We will follow this story and report on any developments.
(Sources: David de Jong and various Italian websites)
on Oct 25th, 2007 at 08:37
It is true that every periodical in Italy has to register with an editor in chief listed in the journalist association, but that apply only to the editor in chief. Everyone is free to write on every periodicals. The rule applies also to the electronic media, under condition of appearing with a fixed schedule. Until now web site and blogs are free, provided it is no business, in that case you have to register also with VAT and Tax authorities.
My personal idea is that they just made a mess in this case, not the last Beppe Grillo, who has conducted for quite a time a populist campaign. Because the need to register an electronic media was already in force, but, again, only for businesses.
on Oct 26th, 2007 at 23:27
“It is true that every periodical in Italy has to register with an editor in chief listed in the journalist association, but that apply only to the editor in chief. Everyone is free to write on every periodicals.”
You’re correct that everbody can work freely as an ‘editor’ but to be able to be a journalist, you need to be admitted to the journalist association. In practice this means for the main media outlets kind of protectionism in their personell policy is my opinion….