Freedom of the Press in Italy: The Situation, Rankings, and Criticism

Italy is a well-established democracy with a diverse press—yet it remains under scrutiny when it comes to press freedom. The country has recently slipped significantly in the Reporters Without Borders rankings. This guide puts the figures into context and explains what the debate is about.

The numbers: 56th place in 2026

In the 2026 Press Freedom Index According to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Italy ranks 56th place from 180 countries. The trend is clearly negative:

• 2024: 46th place
• 2025: 49th place
• 2026: 56th place

This makes Italy the lowest-ranked country in Western Europe. To put this in perspective: According to RSF, worldwide press freedom in 2026 ranks lowest level since the index was introduced 25 years ago achieved—Italy's decline is thus part of a global trend, but it stands out when compared to other Western European countries.

The Main Points of Criticism

1. Intimidation Lawsuits

The most frequently mentioned points are frivolous lawsuits against journalists (a reckless quarrel, (known internationally as a SLAPP). The goal here is less about winning and more about wearing the other side down: Even cases with no chance of success tie up time and money—especially for small newsrooms and freelance journalists.

2. Threats from Organized Crime

Italy has an internationally recognized tradition of investigative journalism targeting the Mafia—and pays a price for it. Several dozen journalists live under Police protection, because they report on organized crime.

3. Political Influence on the RAI

The appointment of executives and editorial staff at the public broadcaster RAI traditionally follows political majorities—critics refer to it as Subdivision, the distribution of positions among political parties. With every change in government, the debate flares up anew; all political camps are affected.

4. Concentration of Ownership

Many media outlets are owned by industrial conglomerates or families with interests outside of journalism—see News Agencies and Daily Newspapers. This raises questions about independence, even though editorial guidelines are intended to counteract this.

What Speaks in Italy's Favor

To be fair, there’s another side to the story: Italy has a a vibrant, outspoken public, a broad spectrum of opinion ranging from left to right, a functioning judiciary, strong investigative newsrooms, and the Professional Association of Journalists (Order of Journalists) as well as advocacy groups organized by the FNSI union. There is no censorship in the traditional sense; criticism of the government and those in power is published daily and without restriction.

The assessment itself is also controversial: The RSF Index combines expert surveys with recorded attacks, which may explain the fluctuations from year to year. It therefore tends to measure a Climate as an exact quantity.

What this means for you as a reader

Not: „You can’t trust the Italian media.“ But rather: Read it as you would anywhere else several sources with different perspectives. News agency reports (such as ansa.it) present the bare facts, while newspapers provide context—and looking at who owns the outlet helps put a stance into perspective. That's exactly what our Overview of the Media Landscape intended.

What You Can Do Next

When dealing with controversial topics, take two extra minutes: check a news agency report for the facts, and two newspapers with different perspectives for their interpretations. If you want to dig deeper, you can find the latest country rankings directly on the Reporters Without Borders website.