Rome – Behind the scenes at the public broadcaster RAI, a battle is currently raging over the future of Sigfrido Ranucci as host of the investigative program „Report.“ The journalist, who has shaped the critical investigative program on RAI 3 for years, is taking a defiant stance: „I’ll stick it out until the very end,“ he said on the sidelines of an event on the island of Favignana. A decision from RAI management is expected later this week.
„Since the days of Milena Gabanelli, “Report” has been considered the flagship of investigative journalism on Italian television. The show exposes the intertwining of politics, business, and organized crime, and has thus made influential enemies over the years. Ranucci took over as host in 2016 and has continued the program in this tradition.
What the Dispute Is About
The central question is whether Ranucci will even host the upcoming season. The company’s top management is working on finding an internal replacement and a possible reassignment for the host—perhaps to the newsroom or to the news channel Rainews. To avoid a legal dispute over a possible demotion, he is to be offered a position of equal standing. Names from within the network’s own editorial team are being floated as possible successors in the studio.
The reporters at „Report“ are standing behind their boss. In a letter to the program directors, they warned against a „normalization“ of the show and characterized the impending change as politically motivated. The latest dispute stemmed from a controversy over contacts with the controversial intermediary Valter Lavitola, which was being investigated by an internal committee.
Attack Casts a Shadow Over the Debate
This development comes amid an already tense situation. In October 2025, an explosive device detonated near Ranucci’s home outside Rome, targeting his cars; his daughter narrowly escaped the attack by mere minutes. Four suspects were arrested, and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed her solidarity with the journalist at the time. Against this backdrop, media associations and the opposition are following the current dispute with particular attention. For Ranucci himself, the matter is clear: he does not want to be forced off the program without a fight.
