President Sergio Mattarella
hailed ANSA's contribution to Italian society as he visited the
news agency's headquarters for its 75th anniversary on Tuesday.
"75 years show that ANSA has been an instrument for the
freedom of the press and of information in our country," he said
as he met reporters, adding that news agencies deserve public
support.
"Guaranteeing information for news organs confers this
activity with a public character," the head of State said.
"Giving information to news organs is a decisive element for
the democracy of our country.
"This makes one understand the need for support from the
public institutions. Press freedom is one of the founding
principles of democracy and our constitution".
Mattarella was given the first ANSA flash on his election on
January 31 2015, during the visit.
The photo of the Italian parliament's applause for the 12th
Italian president was also presented to the head of State.
Mattarella also said news agencies had a fundamental role to
play against fake news.
"Verifying news is the tradition of the great agencies," he
said.
"This is ever more important, also because we are in the
season of fake news, with which it is easy to construct news and
headlines that disorient, that don't correspond to reality".
"This is a responsibility, always supplying prompt and timely
news with credibility and authoritativeness.
"All the more authoritative you are, all the more is news
confirmed.
"There is a virus that is circulating among the multiple news
outlets of our country, and not only that, the fear of being
scooped on news. So you have to avoid the temptation of rushing
after a headline without making the indispensable checks".
Mattarella concluded his visit by saying "this visit to ANSA
is testimony of the interest of the institutions and whosoever
feels these needs of democracy in our country.
"I'm a user of your dispatches, ANSA is a formidable
instrument, a point of reference," he said.
Editor-in-Chief Luigi Contu showed Mattarella a 'ready-made
page' highlighting his visit.
"When I started reading press roundups it was all very
different," the president quipped, referring to the fact that
newspapers were printed 'live'.
ANSA President Giulio Anselmi said "our challenge is to get
there first, with precision and accuracy. Independence,
objectivity and autonomy are the hallmarks of our work".
Upon arrival the president was received by Anselmi, Contu and
Chief Executive Stefano De Alessandri.
He met the members of the board and visited a small
exhibition on transmission equipment, starting from those used
in the early post-war period, documenting how technology has
speeded up the broadcasting of news over the decades.
Mattarella ended his visit by visiting the agency's newsroom
to meet ANSA's reporters.
Italy's top news agency started transmitting on January 15,
1945.
ANSA, whose headquarters are just a few steps away from the
presidential palace, il Palazzo del Quirinale, is a cooperative
made up of the publishers of Italy's top daily newspapers.
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