Sergio Zavoli, master of television journalism, died in Rome on the evening of Tuesday 4 August. He was 96 years old. Father of historical programs such as La Notte della Repubblica, he was a radio commentator, co-director of the news, director of the Gr, president of Rai from 1980 to 1986, author of surveys that have marked history.
“He had in his heart the Constitution, freedom of information, public service and respect for words that, in his inquiries, never turned into stones”, is the memory of Raffaele Lorusso and Giuseppe Giulietti, general secretary and president of the National Federation of the Italian Press.
“Until the end – they add – he never made us lack his advice, urging us to defend Article 21 of the Constitution from old and new pitfalls. It was he who inaugurated the activities of the “Paolo Murialdi” Foundation and recalled the need to safeguard that critical spirit without which free journalism and the democratic order itself cannot exist. In agreement with his family, friends and Usigrai, we will find the best way to remember him and to pass on his lesson to the youngest “.
Representatives of public service journalists also join in mourning the death of Sergio Zavoli: “Italian culture today loses a pillar,” reads a note. “He was an example and a master of journalism. An authentic and profound defender of Rai Public Service. It marked the history of information in Italy. We are certain – concludes the Usigrai Executive – that Rai will be able to find the best way to pay homage to a personality who has honored his service all his life “.
Born in Ravenna in 1923, Zavoli joined Rai in 1947 as a radio journalist. In 1968 he switched to TV: he conceived highly successful programs such as TV7, AZ, Controcampo and the following year he became co-director of the news. Then director of Gr1 (1976) and president of Rai (1980-86), Zavoli was also director of Mattino di Napoli (1993-94) and has signed as a columnist for various magazines such as Oggi, Epoca, Jesus.
Senator from 2001 to 2018, in 2009 he was elected president of the parliamentary commission for the supervision of Rai. Among his essays “Journey around man” (1969), “Birth of a dictatorship” (1973), “The night of the Republic” (1992), linked to his successful television broadcasts.
At this link the video recording of Sergio Zavoli’s lectio magistralis at the inauguration of the Murialdi Foundation activities (From radioradicale.it).
