Italy has recovered the position it had in 2021 after falling to 58th last year.
The report said, however, that press freedom in Italy continues to be threatened by organised crime, particularly in the south of the country, as well as by various violent extremist groups.
“The Italian media landscape is developed and has a wide range of media outlets that guarantee a diversity of opinions,” RSF said.
“For the most part, Italian journalists enjoy a climate of freedom.
“But they sometimes give in to the temptation to censor themselves, either to conform to their news organisation’s editorial line, or to avoid a defamation suit or other form of legal action, or out of fear of reprisals by extremist groups or organised crime.”
The report lamented the fact that defamation has yet to be decriminalised in Italy and said the COVID pandemic made it more complex and cumbersome for national media to gain access to state-held data.
“Journalists who investigate organised crime and corruption are systematically threatened and sometimes subjected to physical violence for their investigative work,” it said, adding that around 20 journalists are currently receiving round-the-clock police protection after being the targets of intimidation and attacks.
ANSA
