Trade union press release
The letter to readers regarding the Multiversity-Unipegaso case from the editorial committees of *Sole 24 Ore*, *Corriere della Sera*, *La Repubblica* and *La Stampa*
Dear readers,
As you may have read over the last few days, an investigation has been launched by the Naples Public Prosecutor’s Office into the Multiversity-Unipegaso online university case.
The investigation involved publishers, managers and newspaper editors accused on various grounds of alleged corruption between private individuals. According to the prosecutors’ theory, advertising spend was promised or paid in exchange for favourable or biased articles, or for the omission of certain content.
For us, defending the professionalism, ethical standards and reputation of journalists is a fundamental trade union issue: Jobs are not safeguarded merely by defending wages, staffing levels and contractual terms, but also by guaranteeing that those who report the news are free to practise their profession without pressure or interference. The reputation of an entire editorial team cannot be put at risk by interests unrelated to its mission.
This matter calls for collective and shared reflection that goes beyond individual corporate issues, however important they may be. Whilst upholding the presumption of innocence and without prejudging assessments that are the sole responsibility of the judiciary, the relationship between the media, economic power and commercial interests remains a crucial issue which, as trade union representatives, we cannot and will not sidestep.
