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Journalists don't care about slander, but about the truth!

2026-01-28 14:28:00, Opinione Esiona Konomi

Self-regulation is vital, but the state in the middle is murderous!

Journalists are not calling for the removal of defamation from the Criminal Code as a “legalization of defamation.”
We are calling for this article to be repealed entirely so that people in power do not use this article to threaten quality journalism and combat critical reporting.

Today, as we speak, there are some serious journalists, from the most balanced media, who have been facing defamation lawsuits in prosecutors and courts for years, simply because they have told the truths that the “powerful” have not liked.
Processes that create costs, take time and energy, distracting them from their main task: reporting the truth. Even if I win that trial, I will have wasted years of effort.

There are journalists today in criminal proceedings for making critical or ironic posts on social networks.
This is the truth!

Meanwhile, everyone has the right to defend themselves if they are the victim of defamation. They can do this through a lawsuit in the civil chambers. In fact, the fine in this case is paid by the victim of the defamation and not by the state, as is the case in criminal proceedings.

Does the article approved yesterday save journalists from defamation lawsuits?
No.

Because the article says that a journalist must be registered somewhere according to the law in force.
Unenforceable, because there is no law that requires journalists to register somewhere (fortunately).

Secondly, for a journalist to be “forgiven” defamation, he or she must have made every effort, according to the Criminal Code, to uncover the truth.
But how is this measured? There is no objective method.

Third, to avoid facing criminal charges, he must delete the article if the affected party requests it, claiming that he has been defamed.
What if the journalist is convinced that he is right and insists on what he has reported?

All three of these conditions make the "amnesty" of journalists from defamation sentences unenforceable.

Should there be regulatory acts for the profession of journalists?
Yes, but in no way through state channels.

The day the government grants or revokes a journalist's title or license, media freedom is over.
Self-regulation is the only form. Journalists join media organizations, and based on codes of ethics, these entities grant or revoke membership.

This is the only path that should be supported and followed.

How does it work in the EU?

Italy – the “Ordine dei Giornalisti” model
Journalism has been regulated by law since 1963. To practice as a “professional”, you must be a member of the Ordine dei Giornalisti.
Registration requires passing a state exam after a period of practice.
Although it is a public entity, it is self-managed by journalists, but remains under the supervision of the Ministry of Justice.

Others – self-regulation
In countries like the UK, Germany or the Scandinavian countries, there is no state licensing.
The system operates through Media Councils, which are self-regulatory bodies.
If a journalist violates ethics, he does not lose a state license, but he can be expelled from professional associations or penalized by the self-regulatory body, which seriously damages his credibility.