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Carlo de Benedetti gives annual Thomson Reuters Foundation lecture

Chairman of CIR talks on media freedom in Italy in a live discussion from the Reuters Centre for Excellence in Journalism, Oxford

This is the live blog of the annual Reuters Memorial Lecture, which this year is being given by Carlo de Benedetti, ownerof CIR, publisher of la Repubblica and l`Espresso newspapers. Your anchors will be Reuters UK and Ireland bureau chief Jon Bramley and Italian-born Cecilia Valente, a correspondent based in London. The lecture starts at 5:30.

by reutersgr8db8 11/23/2009 5:28:04 PM

We are up and running. The auditorium is full and we are awaiting Carlo de Benedetti's entrance.

by reutersgr8db8 11/23/2009 5:28:09 PM
We are in position in a packed auditorium and awaiting the entrance of Carlo de Benedetti

by reutersgr8db8 11/23/2009 5:28:38 PM
Carlo is being introduced. He owns the La Repubblica, Italy's second largest daily newspaper.

by reutersgr8db8 11/23/2009 5:37:32 PM
La Repubblica was founded by a noble family called the Caracciolo

by reutersgr8db8 11/23/2009 5:38:32 PM
Here we go...

by reutersgr8db8 11/23/2009 5:40:35 PM
De Benetti will speak and then answer the audience questions..

by reutersgr8db8 11/23/2009 5:41:15 PM
Everything is changing in media but one thing remains the same, he says. Information is the right of the citizen.

by reutersgr8db8 11/23/2009 5:43:11 PM
Newspaper organises the facts and puts them into context for the reader. They inform and enable the reader to come to their own opinion, he says.

by reutersgr8db8 11/23/2009 5:46:02 PM
A newspaper "makes" the community, he says.

by reutersgr8db8 11/23/2009 5:48:20 PM
Newspapers and the citizen and democracy are a triangle supporting each other, he says.

by reutersgr8db8 11/23/2009 5:49:35 PM
Newspapers give intellectual cohesion for the community and builds on its cultural foundation, he says.

by reutersgr8db8 11/23/2009 5:52:50 PM
Berlusconi dominates the TV and media landscape - the only example of a political leader doing so in the democratic world, De Benedetti says.

by reutersgr8db8 11/23/2009 5:56:27 PM
La Repubblica has been asking Berlusconi about scandals for five months - without an answer, De Benedetti says.

by reutersgr8db8 11/23/2009 5:59:01 PM
PM attacked the paper and asked companies NOT to advertise in "doom and gloom" Repubblica, he says

by reutersgr8db8 11/23/2009 5:59:58 PM
In attacking us, he is attacking all the press of the western world, says De Benedetti...

by reutersgr8db8 11/23/2009 6:00:43 PM
De Benedetti says Berlusconi is making attacks on TV on a personal level

by reutersgr8db8 11/23/2009 6:03:12 PM
De Benedetti asks if Berlusconi is threatening the rights of the citizen in Italy to be freely informed.

by reutersgr8db8 11/23/2009 6:04:42 PM
Populism often leads to abuses of power, says de Benedetti.

by reutersgr8db8 11/23/2009 6:06:40 PM
Executive has been using the legislative to stop the judiciary exercising its powers against Berlusconi, says de Benedetti.

by reutersgr8db8 11/23/2009 6:08:49 PM
We all serve our country when we do our duty freely and conscientiously, says De Benedetti

by reutersgr8db8 11/23/2009 6:10:17 PM
Newspapers' role is to build on the news, giving meaningful insight, he says

by reutersgr8db8 11/23/2009 6:13:57 PM
Panel agrees that Berlusconi is one of a kind

by reutersgr8db8 11/23/2009 6:17:30 PM
TV is of overriding importance in Italy, says a member of the panel

by reutersgr8db8 11/23/2009 6:29:15 PM
Whoever controls TV in Italy wields the power, says panel member

by reutersgr8db8 11/23/2009 6:29:54 PM

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