Alessandria – Enrico Mentana has announced his departure from TgLa7. On December 23, 2026, the longtime news director plans to host the program for the last time. His contract with the Italian private broadcaster expires at the end of the year and will not be renewed. Mentana announced the decision on Saturday at the Franco Marchiaro Journalism Award ceremony in Alessandria.
The 71-year-old has headed La7„s news division since 2010. Over the past 16 years, he has shaped the channel’s programming with lengthy live broadcasts covering elections and political events. In Italy, such broadcasts have come to be known as “Maratone.” Station owner Urbano Cairo had publicly emphasized his appreciation for Mentana and stated that he would like to see him remain with the company. However, there are currently no plans for him to stay on.
The announcement follows a lengthy debate over the network’s editorial direction. Back in May, Mentana had already criticized the strong polarization of talk shows. In his view, not all political guests feel equally welcome on those shows. During his appearance in Alessandria, he spoke again about the changing role of television and how to handle opposing viewpoints.
Enrico Mentana: His professional future remains uncertain
What the future holds for Enrico Mentana remains unclear. The journalist has not announced a new employer or any specific next assignment. Nor has a successor been named to lead TgLa7 following his announcement of his departure. While a move to another station is being discussed, no agreement has been confirmed.
Mentana’s career began in 1980 at the public broadcaster Rai. There, he worked for the news departments of Tg1 and Tg2, among others. In 1991, he moved to Fininvest and co-founded the news program Tg5 on Canale 5, serving as its first director from 1992 to 2004. The announced departure refers to his role at La7 and does not yet constitute a complete retirement from journalism.
