Cultural diversity and inclusion in Italian media: Between (in)visibility and self-representation

Over the past 30 years, several European institutions have called for ethnic and cultural diversity to be reflected in the work of news media, either in the content they produce or in the composition of newsrooms. Italy as a country and as a media system has so far shown limited interest in the issue. However, the children of the protagonists of the major waves of immigration of the late 1980s and early 1990s are claiming a public voice. Over the past decade, a new generation of journalists and media professionals with an immigrant background has come to the fore. This paper presents the findings of an exploratory study of legacy media and digital native media in Italy. Through interviews with editors and senior journalists and young racialised journalists, the paper reflects on the perceptions of diversity within the industry. It shows how traditional media struggle to intercept and connect with this new generation of journalists. At the same time, digital media and social media provide fragmented spaces for their voices to be heard.