La Svolta fires director Cristina Sivieri Tagliabue

On the home page of the website of the online newspaper La Svolta, which was founded a few years ago to investigate issues related to the environment, rights and the future, time seems to have stood still: the editorial present is dated 3 May and is signed by the now ex-editor, Cristina Sivieri Tagliabue. Former because the journalist was first suspended and then dismissed for alleged just cause by the publishing company headed by the entrepreneur Pietro Colucci, who is editorial director and publisher of the newspaper.

Dismissed why? The dismissal for alleged just cause refers to an editorial note that came out on 13 May in which the entire editorial staff hoped that the situation involving the publisher Colucci, who was involved in the Genoa investigations, would be clarified as soon as possible, and in the meantime committed to doing their job. The editorial staff led by Sivieri Tagliabue felt it was their duty to inform their readers, since it had been a few days since the first news about the Ligurian investigation and a newspaper that deals with rights, the environment and the future has its own reputation, linked to transparency. So it was only right to say something in the interest of the newspaper itself. The note triggered a succession of unexpected events for the journalist: first the blacking out of the site, then a communiqué explaining that publication was in fact suspended, and finally the disciplinary proceedings against the editor. Today, the opening of the site La svolta is in fact occupied by a note from the publishing company stating 'that the newspaper is experiencing a critical moment that forces us to limit, even suspend, the publication of our usual informative contributions on the subject of rights, innovation and the environment. The archive and past news items of the newspaper remain at your disposal'. The note goes on to explain that the choice of having wanted to make a newspaper not based on gossip and sensationalism has not yet allowed for a sufficient financial balance of the initiative.

In the disciplinary complaint against editor Tagliabue, the contents of the editorial note are reproached, which, as the journalist has already explained, are, however, truthful and respectful of the readers' right to know the situation, in accordance with the principles of independence and decorum of the journalistic profession. The dismissal of editor Tagliabue, who is the only employee of the publishing company, took place anyway and now, as lawyer Angelica Savoini, who defends Sivieri Tagliabue, explains, 'we will take legal action to protect her rights. I believe that my client's professional dignity has been violated and this dismissal is illegitimate and retaliatory'. Dismissal for just cause, among other things, does not provide for the payment of indemnity in lieu of notice, nor of other indemnities.

In the meantime, the journalist has received the solidarity of the Fnsi, Odg and Usigrai POAs and the GiULiA Giornaliste association, which express 'full solidarity with our colleague Sivieri Tagliabue, for an unacceptable disciplinary measure against a journalist and director who did her duty: informing readers about a situation that had already been public for days. This affair has also brought to light the very serious contractual vacuum in the newspaper, where there are no employee relations, apart from that of the dismissed director, and therefore the total absence of union coverage'.