He was 68 years old

Journalist Franco Di Mare died, he had suffered from mesothelioma

The announcement was made by his brother Gino Di Mare, who wrote on Facebook: 'Ciao Frà, with you goes a piece of me'. The dispute with Rai and the company's condolences

17 May 2024

E' morto Franco di Mare, eccolo in un video del 2021 in audizione alla Vigilanza Rai

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5' min read

Journalist Franco Di Mare has died, his family announced in a note. He was 68 years old and had been ill for some time. "Embraced by the love of his wife, daughter, sisters and brother and the affection of his closest friends, journalist Franco Di Mare passed away today in Rome. Communication for the funeral will follow'. Di Mare was struck down by mesothelioma. The announcement was made by his brother Gino Di Mare, who wrote on Facebook: 'Ciao Frà, with you goes a piece of me'.

"Why does a journalist risk his life by going to places of war?'" Franco Di Mare quoted Hemingway: "Because in war you meet beautiful people: beyond the bombs, the risk you take, there is also solidarity among colleagues and among people you meet just by chance".

In the end, the referee blew the whistle: Franco di Mare, Neapolitan, born on 8 July 1955, journalist, former correspondent, writer, was 68 years old and suffering from mesothelioma, did not make it to his birthday. He had moved the public after he had been a guest to present his book 'Le parole per dirlo, la guerra dentro e fuori di noi' (Sem editori) in a dramatic appearance on 'Che tempo che fa', where he had revealed that he was seriously ill: 'I have a very bad tumour, mesothelioma: you get it from breathing in asbestos particles. I have little time left to live but it's not over yet'.

The disease

His last post on 4 May to thank all those who had supported him. To Fazio, it was 28 April, he had said, 'as a war correspondent I breathed asbestos: I am serene and I do not give up, but you cannot recover from this', going into the details of an affair that shocked the public also for the heavy statements on the behaviour reserved for him by RAI (not the current management, he had specified) after the discovery of the disease. Rai's top management had immediately afterwards made it known that they were unaware of his affair and in the following days explained that they had sent Di Mare the information he had requested.

The 68-year-old journalist had linked his illness to his many reports as a war correspondent, especially in the former Yugoslavia. In his book he writes: ''War is the disease of the world. As soon as it breaks out, it is the immediate cause of endless pain, disaster, death. But wars continue to claim victims even after they end. A tragic example of this is the 'Balkan Syndrome', the long series of illnesses caused by exposure to bullets with depleted uranium or the inhalation of asbestos particles released into the air following the destruction of buildings and industrial complexes'.

In 1991 he joined RAI

Franco Di Mare graduated in Political Science from the Federico II University in Naples. He began collaborating with several newspapers including L'Unità, for which he mainly covered judicial and foreign policy news. For Rizzoli, he published Il cecchino e la bambina (2009) and the bestseller novel 'Non chiedere perchè' (2011) where he told the story of how he met in an orphanage and fell in love with a 10-month-old girl whom he would later adopt with the name Stella. The book was published thirteen times, won the Premio Roma and the Premio Fregene and came second at the Premio Bancarella. This book was later adapted into the TV film for Rai1 ''L'angelo di Sarajevo'' starring Beppe Fiorello, which at the time had 7.5 million viewers. It was the actor at the time who asked Di Mare by text message (he recounted this himself) if he could play this role: 'Behind every man there is a story worth telling'.

In 1991, Di Mare joined RAI in the foreign editorial office of TG2, where he became a special correspondent in 1995, covering the Balkan War. It was here that he may have contracted the disease that led to his death today. In 2002, he moved to TG1, covering most of the conflicts of the last twenty years: Bosnia, Kosovo, Somalia, Mozambique, Algeria, Albania, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Rwanda, the first and second Gulf Wars, Afghanistan, East Timor, the Middle East and Latin America.

A very long career

In the course of his journalistic career he has dealt with international politics covering - always as a correspondent - the failed coups in Latin America, the presidential election campaigns in the United States, France, Bulgaria and Algeria. He has written reports and documentaries on organised crime in Italy (Sicily, Campania, Calabria and Apulia) and internationally (Germany, Russia and Bulgaria). He has produced investigations and reports following terrorist attacks in Japan, Russia, Kenya, Egypt, the United States and the Middle East, as well as reports from areas affected by natural disasters such as Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Alabama, India, Anatolia and Louisiana. In 2003 he became a television presenter on Rai 1, where he was at the helm of Unomattina Estate, of Uno Mattina week end and then from 2004 of Uno Mattina.

From 2005 to 2009, he was the presenter of Saturday and Sunday, the leading news and current affairs programme in the morning slot - broadcast on Rai 1 - at the weekend from 6.30 to 9.30 am. Since 2005 he has conducted the TG1 windows within Uno Mattina always on Rai 1 (three spaces with news and in-depth analysis), an activity that he also holds for the 2010-2011 season.On 20 July 2019 he became the new deputy director of Rai 1, with responsibility for in-depth analysis and investigations. From 14 January 2020 he is general director of Rai's daily programmes. On 15 May 2020 he takes over as director of Rai 3, where Fabio Fazio will return. On 19 June, 40 years after the Ustica massacre, he hosts the special Volo Itavia 870 on Rai 3. The last chapter of his latest book is dedicated to his affections, his daughter Stella, his sisters, his brother, his wife Giulia, whom he married a few days ago and who has been by his side for eight years.

The words of ad Sergio

"I am deeply touched by the news of the passing of my colleague Franco Di Mare. Just as I remember with emotion my brief but intense telephone conversation a few days ago. I join in the prayers and memories of an extraordinary professional. I am close to his wife, daughter, relatives and the people who loved him. A strong embrace,' Rai adman Roberto Sergio told LaPresse.

RAI's condolences

"The death of Franco Di Mare is for the RAI, for which he has always worked with passion and professionalism, a reason for deep sorrow, to which is added our gratitude for all that he has done during his long career, which has often seen him in the front line to courageously report on conflicts in the world. A passion that has also accompanied him in the programmes he has subsequently conducted, in the managerial roles he has held and in the experience of the 'Frontiers' investigation programme, which he will run until 2023. His family receives the sincere condolences of President Marinella Soldi, on behalf of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer Roberto Sergio, General Manager Gianpaolo Rossi, and the entire company'.

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