Fascist Press control and censorship Flashcards
What were introduced in 1923 and 1925 that increase censorship?
Decrees restricting the freedom of the press in Italy
How did the decrees introduced help the Fascists to control the press?
1) They could now confiscate whole editions of newspapers, journals or magazines that were considered unfavourable to the regime
2) Could suspend publication,. suspend editors and shut down offensive newspapers completely
What left-wing newspaper was shut down in 1926, and why was this ironic?
Avanti - Mussolini was previously an editor of the newspaper
How were journalists censored?
1) Had to join up with a Fascist organisation, and ensure their work was positive towards Mussolini, or they would lose their jobs
2) Told not to print stories on crime, suicides, traffic accidents etc. so to maintain the image of Fascist Italy being a state with no social problems
What was Mussolini’s reasoning for shutting down avanti and other newspapers like it?
They were left-wing
Were Fascist newspapers the only newspapers circulated throughout Italy?
No - Less focus on right wing organisations, Nationalist and catholic newspapers had large followings, e.g. Osservatore Romano (Vatican newspaper) had 250,000 readers
What % of newspaper sales did Fascists newspapers account for?
10%
How else did the Fascists control the press?
Subsidised newspapers that printed positive stories about Mussolini
