Dismissal of Journalist Gabriele Nunziati: Media Freedom in Europe
- ZrcaljenjeNovic
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
The dismissal of Italian journalist Gabriele Nunziati is not merely a labor dispute but a reflection of the state of media freedom in Europe. Behind this case lies a painful truth that has been evident for some time: the issues of censorship, political correctness, and the questionable role of institutions that are supposed to protect democratic values.
The news agency, Agenzia Nova, which fired its journalist Gabriele Nunziati, has revealed its true nature. Instead of standing by its colleague and the principle of impartial reporting, it succumbed to pressure from the European Commission and Israeli interests.
The question Nunziati posed to Paula Pinho, a representative of the European Commission, was not only appropriate but urgently necessary. The facts are clear: the Israeli military operation has effectively razed Gaza to the ground, destroying its residential areas, infrastructure, hospitals, and schools, rendering it entirely unfit for dignified human life. Questioning responsibility for such destruction is a fundamental duty and basic logic for any journalist.
Agenzia Nova's response revealed a long-concealed truth about journalism in Europe: it is no longer free. In practice, it fares no better than in theory. While official Brussels loudly advocates for media freedom and simultaneously warns Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić about owning media and them not being free, etc., anyone who dares to ask questions contrary to the established narrative in Europe faces consequences.
The Russia-Ukraine Context: Omitted Facts!
The comparison between Gaza and Ukraine made by Agenzia Nova—citing it as the misleading context for why journalist Gabriele Nunziati's question was supposedly inappropriate—is itself misleading. The agency's claim that Russia attacked Ukraine "without provocation" is a historical oversimplification and ignores key circumstances. The Russian special military operation did not come out of nowhere. Its main stated motivation was the protection of Russian-speaking populations in Donbas and Luhansk, who, since 2014, have reportedly faced armed pressure and massacres from the Ukrainian authorities.
This is not "Russian propaganda" but is also acknowledged by Western actors. For example, former German Chancellor Angela Merkel admitted in 2022 that the Minsk Agreements, signed in 2014, were primarily intended to "give Ukraine time" to strengthen its army. This admission is shocking, as it confirms suspicions that the West was preparing for an armed conflict while peace negotiations were conducted in bad faith.
The apparent aim was to enable Kyiv to gather strength for a further conflict with the Donbas regions, which undermines the claim of an "unprovoked attack."
Silence at Home: The Questionable Role of the Slovenian Journalists' Association!
Particularly intriguing in this case is the silence of Slovenian journalistic associations, such as the Slovenian Association of Journalists, which is usually quick to comment on such and other cases. The National Federation of the Italian Press (FNSI) supported Nunziati, which is certainly commendable. But the question is, why, for example, has the Slovenian Association of Journalists not expressed its position on this case?
Such silence is concerning!
The question posed by Italian journalist Gabriele Nunziati is more than a litmus test for press freedom in Europe. It indicated that there is an invisible, yet powerful mechanism determining which questions are permitted and which are not. This mechanism is not based on the pursuit of truth but on political bias and alliances.
Journalists who highlight the suffering in Gaza are labeled as biased. The context of Russian security concerns is ignored or distorted. Such a situation can only occur in an environment where journalism has ceased to fear for the truth and has begun to fear the powers that be. And that is the ultimate betrayal of its mission.