Roberto Sergio

Roberto Sergio is an Italian media executive. Former director of Rai Radio, and CEO of the Italian-State owned public TV RAI appointed by Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, known internationally for his controversial leadership and involvement in various media-related debates and scandals.

Early life

Education

Roberto Sergio graduated in adult age at the online university Link Campus University in 2015 in Communication Sciences and in 2017 in Communication Technologies and Languages. In the same year, he became a lecturer at the university. According to the New York Times, Italian newspapers that have depicted Link Campus University as either a shady diploma mill or den of spies”

Since 1994, he has been a member of the Order of Journalists of Lazio and Molise and a member of the Italian Public Relations Federation (FERPI) since 2001.

Media

Early career and entry into Rai

Sergio began his professional career at Sogei and was one of the founders of Lottomatica S.p.A. (now International Game Technology), where he served as deputy general manager until 2004. He then joined Rai as director of New Media and held important roles, such as president of SIPRA, president of Rai Way, and board member of several Rai subsidiaries.

Rai Radio directorate and appointment as CEO

From 2016 to 2024, he was the director of Rai Radio. In May 2023, he was appointed CEO of Rai, proposed by the Meloni government, with an annual salary of 240,000 euros. Between August and October 2024, he served as acting president before being appointed General Director of Rai. In November 2024, he was named General Director of RTV San Marino, a company 50% owned by Rai.

Controversies

Statement read by Mara Venier

On 12 February 2024, Mara Venier found herself at the centre of a controversy after reading a statement from the CEO of Rai, Roberto Sergio, during an episode of "Domenica In". The statement expressed solidarity with the Israeli people and the Jewish community, paying tribute to the victims of the Hamas attacks on 7 October. Here is the full text of the statement:

: "I express my total solidarity with the people of Israel and the Jewish community, and my thoughts go to the many children, women, and men who lost their lives in the 7 October attack. Rai is deeply committed to keeping the memory of these innocent victims alive and of all the people still held hostage by Hamas."

At the end of the reading, Venier added: "These are the words of our CEO, which we obviously all share." This comment sparked a strong reaction, with accusations of bias and omission regarding the Palestinian victims, leading to debates on social media and among the television audience.

The incident was criticized by various political figures, including Andrea Orlando of the Democratic Party, who called Rai's position "narrow-minded" and "embarrassing." Protests also took place in several Italian cities; in Naples, pro-Palestinian groups gathered in front of the local Rai office, leading to clashes with the police.

Artists and public figures also expressed their disagreement with the live broadcast statement. Rapper Ghali accused Rai of lacking balance, stating that "a public broadcaster should not take such a one-sided position in such a complex conflict." Similarly, Dargen D'Amico criticized Rai for failing to mention the suffering of Palestinians, asserting that "ignoring part of the story helps dehumanize those already victims of the war."

In her defense, Mara Venier explained that her role as a presenter included reading the channel's official statements and that her additional comment reflected an institutional position. However, the episode sparked a debate about Rai's role as a public service broadcaster and its management of pluralism in sensitive contexts like the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The Scurati case

On June 8, 2024, Sergio stated that journalist Serena Bortone should have been fired for the case involving the unbroadcast monologue by writer Antonio Scurati. Sergio claimed that the monologue had not been censored but that Scurati refused to participate because he would not be paid. Scurati denied these claims, calling them "false" and "denigrating".

Sergio's statements fueled debate on freedom of speech and the impartiality of Rai, with accusations of political bias. Senator Francesco Verducci described Sergio’s behavior as "arrogant," while Sergio denied the existence of a "TeleMeloni," asserting that public service broadcasting had always been balanced.

TeleMeloni accusation

Sergio’s tenure is closely linked with the alleged politicization of the RAI under Meloni, which has been described as emblematic of the challenges facing press freedom in Italy, which fell to 46th place in the global press freedom index by Reporters Without Borders in 2024.

The structural transformation of RAI can be traced back to 2016, when then-Prime Minister Matteo Renzi (Democratic Party) introduced reforms aimed at curbing partisan influence. Renzi's measures centralized power within the role of an administrator-delegate (CEO), a position selected by a board predominantly appointed by the government. This role granted significant control over programming, appointments, and editorial direction. When Giorgia Meloni assumed office in 2022, her administration quickly utilized this framework to consolidate influence over RAI, further tightening government control over Italy’s leading public broadcaster. Critics have accused her government of undermining journalistic independence and promoting censorship. By May 2023, just eight months into Meloni’s term, this approach became evident, with numerous incidents sparking public and professional backlash.

The term "TeleMeloni" encapsulates the perception that Meloni’s administration aims to transform RAI into a propaganda tool for the far-right government. One prominent example occurred on April 25, 2024, Italy's Liberation Day. Celebrated as a commemoration of Italy's resistance against fascism, the day has often been neglected by the radical right. During this year's broadcast, renowned author Antonio Scurati was scheduled to read an antifascist text but was abruptly removed from the program under the pretext of budgetary concerns. Journalist Serena Bortone defied this decision by reading the text live on air, an act that provoked Sergio’s ire. He publicly criticized Bortone, claiming, “Serena Bortone should have been fired for what she did!”

Another example involved Roberto Saviano, a celebrated author and journalist known for his anti-mafia investigations. Saviano's television program "Insider, Faccia a Faccia con il Crimine" was canceled by Sergio's RAI leadership before its planned broadcast in November 2023, further fueling allegations of censorship. Though the program may eventually air, the decision highlighted the administration's influence over editorial decisions.

The Meloni government’s media strategy and Sergio’s complicity has drawn parallels to historical patterns of authoritarian control, with media experts such as Peppino Ortoleva characterizing it as an ideological push to reclaim power historically denied to the far-right. Ortoleva remarked, “ eloni’saim is to seize all the powers that have escaped her camp for seventy years. Among these powers, RAI is paramount.”

The impact extends beyond journalism. Investigations have revealed government-aligned interference in cultural sectors, including cinema, museums, and theater. According to researcher Émile Poivet, Meloni’s administration (along with Rai CEO’s complicity) has fostered a culture of compliance, rewarding those willing to align with its vision while sidelining dissenting voices.

Sergio's role as a key figure in this media transformation has made him a lightning rod for criticism. Journalists and cultural figures have accused him of compromising RAI's independence to serve political interests. In response, some media professionals have migrated to independent outlets such as La7 and Nove, while others have staged strikes to protest what they describe as a "stifling control" by the government.{{Cite web, url=https://www.politico.eu/article/giorgia-meloni-italian-state-broadcaster-rai-press-freedom-journalists-on-strike-public-media/, title=Journalists at Italian public media strike over Meloni government's influence, date=May 6, 2024, website=POLITICO

These developments have underscored growing concerns about press freedom and democratic accountability in Italy. As Roberto Sergio continues to face criticism for his role in what has been termed the "TeleMeloni" era, his legacy remains deeply intertwined with the broader debate over the role of public media in a democratic society.

Notes

Italian advertising executives
Italian chief executives
Italian mass media owners
Italian producers
Italian company founders
Date of birth missing (living people)