Colleagues against colleagues, feud over the management of Report

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Colleagues Against Colleagues Feud Over Report Conduct 2026 08 28

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Rome – Sigfrido Ranucci has been suspended from hosting Report: it's a battle between colleagues and colleagues, between the majority and the opposition. In a social media post, the former host attacks the Presuttis and Piervincenzis nominated for the job: "The choice of two people denigrates the professionalism that has shaped Report's history." Report journalists are threatening to resign.

RAI's decision to suspend Ranucci from hosting the program, announced this afternoon in an official statement, is not without its pain. The journalist, embroiled in the Lavitola scandal, accuses his colleagues of being behind the decision: "The reason is that I would have jeopardized the credibility of Report following the 2800 articles published in two months by newspapers belonging to the Angelucci group and, in any case, by government officials, including by friendly fire from RAI."

The journalist, to whom the company offered three options for staying, raises the banner of press freedom and announces that he will fight: "This is not a farewell. I will not host Report, but I will lead the most important battle of my life for press freedom."

Usigrai: "The Report brand deserves shared choices."

Usigrai, the union of Rai journalists, also stands by the former host: "The Report brand is an asset to Rai and its staff, and deserves shared decisions. For this reason, Rai executives cannot dismiss Ranucci's replacement with a single line in a press release but must explain the reasons behind his departure.

We therefore ask the company not to fail to engage and listen to an editorial team that must first and foremost be protected from attacks by certain political forces, who aim to destroy its credibility because they fear investigative journalism." He then added, "A shared decision is also needed to respect and protect the professionalism and serenity of the two colleagues appointed by the company today to manage the paper."

Minister Musumeci defends the public company's decision

From Catania, Minister Nello Musumeci defended the public company's decision: "I believe the decision of the company, which operates with complete autonomy, deserves respect. I believe the decision adopted does not diminish Ranucci's professionalism, and he is still recognized as having a role of great responsibility.

I just want to hope that Report can maintain a balanced approach rather than a campaign of harassment against the Right, against representatives of the Right, as has unfortunately happened in the past. Investigative journalism is useful not only for revealing untold and hidden truths, but also because it provides an opportunity for stimulation as well as denunciation.

Colleagues against colleagues: Presutti and Piervincenzi's choice contested by the editorial staff and Ranucci

The program, which starting next season will be hosted by Giulia Presutti and Daniele Piervincenzi, is effectively changing its format, as had been hypothesized in recent days.

"Journalists selected and winners of the Rai competition, in recognition of their professionalism and field experience," is how Rai describes them in a statement. But the two journalists' CVs were ignored by Ranucci or his former editorial staff, who are contesting Rai's choice outright. The program's longtime correspondents, gathered at a meeting, also lashed out at the two young journalists. "Rai's decision is completely unacceptable to us," arguing that "the individuals chosen in no way represent the history and values of Report." They announced their intention to resign en masse.

Paolo Corsini, editor-in-chief of Approfondimento, says he also listened to the editorial staff's requests, appointing Bernardo Iovene and Giulio Valesini as editorial staff leaders and points of contact. However, they quickly announced they would not accept the position.

The former host has three options to evaluate: Rainews, Tg3 or a correspondent office

The company offered Sigfrido Ranucci, currently deputy director ad personam, three options: Rainews, Tg3, or a correspondent's office. Both inside and outside Rai, the controversy continues, starting with Ranucci himself.

Rai directors Alessandro di Majo, Davide Di Pietro, and Roberto Natale, however, do not address the merits of the people chosen for the new leadership, but they consider the decision to replace Ranucci "foolish." "It is understood," they say, "that we dissociate ourselves from any legal or financial consequences that this foolish decision, made without the slightest involvement of the Board of Directors, may entail." Ranucci's lawyer makes it clear that the matter is headed for legal action, announcing a battle "in every forum."

Political battle between the majority and the opposition over the decision to suspend Sigfrido Ranucci

Meanwhile, the battle is already political, with the Five Star Movement (M5S) leading the charge in defending the host, with Barbara Floridia calling it "a veritable coup." For Angelo Bonelli and Nicola Fratoianni of the Alliance of the Greens and the Left, "it's clear that the right has used the attack to demolish Report."

For Sandro Ruotolo, head of Information and Culture at the Democratic Party's national secretariat, "it was all written down," because in his opinion "this right-wing party is intolerant of the control of journalism."

Brothers of Italy, on the other hand, expressed satisfaction: "With the decision to entrust the hosting of Report to Giulia Presutti and Daniele Piervincenzi, they hope that the program Report will finally return to doing its true job, the one for which all citizens pay the license fee: investigative journalism."

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