THE ETHICS OF WORDS

by Albino Longhi

The issue of freedom of information and respect for pluralism has been centre of discussions and meditations that summon all those who operate in the complex world of media.
It has now become a widespread conviction that a piece of information inspired by values of freedom, truth and justice is essential to garantee life and development in a democratic society.
As a matter of fact, freedom of information is strongly thwarted or denied in countries ruled by authoritative or dictatorial systems.
Under this profile, what is today the situation for our country? A recent report by Freedom House, a prestigious, independent organization which safeguards civil rights, puts Italy as last in Europe in a special place-list on freedom of the media system, due to the permanent tangle among information, and politicaland economical powers. We should not forget that the very same President of the Italian Republic has more than once asked the political forces to strongly garantee pluralism and impartiality for information, as “essential instruments to accomplish a complete democracy”. The situation imposes thus an extra responsibility for all of those who operate within communication, called to the duty of telling the facts of our time with intellectual honesty, and scruple of truth.
The prize Premio Val di Sole. Un giornalismo trasparente, recalls the risks linked to a distorted use of means of communications. The Prize takes place in the charming frame of Centro Congressi Alla Sosta dell’Imperatore and is an event of peculiar relevance in the cultural appointments schedule of the summer in Trentino, that has aroused a large interest also on a national level.
It has the pride of showing every year exemples of journalists that could “keep their back straight”, marrying professional commitment to ethical consciousness.
The list of the prized ones contains prestigious names of Italian journalism.
For instance, we remember here just a few of them: Piero Ostellino, Ferruccio De Bortoli, Candido Cannavò, Enzo Biagi, Piero Angela, Enrico Mentana, Emilio Giannelli, Natalia Aspesi, Gian Antonio Stella, Joaquin Navarro Valls.
The President of the Autonomous Province of Trento, Lorenzo Dellai, wanted to underline that the Premio Val di Sole, “confirms itself, year after year, as an appointment of primary relevance for the whole Trentino, projected always more definitely beyond its borders”.
This is an encouragement to continue in the commitment to call the operators of the information to ethical responsability, respectful towards citizens’ rights for a correct and transparent information.
This is again the way for a civil and cultural growth, which rejects the temptation of conformism and selfcensorship.