Marcello Foa, 'saddened by the closure of Giù la maschera'

"Well yes, what was unexpected is happened, 'Down with the Mask' was cancelled from the schedule of Rai Radio 1". Marcello Foa announced it on social media, saying "very shocked and saddened by what happened." "It's a program that I created two years ago and that I hosted alternating at my side three journalists, intellectuals of great depth like Peter Gomez, Alessandra Ghisleri and Giorgio Gandola and at the beginning also Luca Ricolfi - recalls Foa -. The aim was beautiful, of authentic public service, there was a only one topic per day. We tackled it by putting I compared several people who had completely different opinions different on that topic and trying to be intellectually courageous, therefore facing with the right tone of voice also topics that other channels and other media do not faced". "Hence the success of the show and hence a year ago the decision of Rai Radio 1 to even strengthen this program - underlines the host -. Today, however, the program disappears from the Rai Radio 1 schedules. Why? It's very simple: the director of Rai Radio 1 has changed and as always It happens in these circumstances in Rai the political parties have put their voices to try to influence the schedules. It's a mystery, it's been like this for many years. But what happened is quite disconcerting because the undersigned, the former president of RAI, was not notified of the decision". "I learned about it by chance from the media. And then, this is very important, because other programs have been confirmed - Foa continues -. The main one that has been cancelled is Just take off the mask. Which unfortunately says a lot because I tried to conduct this broadcast, to interpret what is my vision of public service, therefore of to be authentically plural, to be unafraid of any opinion, and of course this decision saddens me, especially for Rai which should not behave in this way manner". After thanking Foa he added: "We spent two wonderful years, of great comparison, of great passion, of great intellectual honesty, so my regret is not to be able to continue this beautiful adventure with them. However, the my fight for truly independent journalism, authoritative, not shouted but sincere, will continue. Of this not doubt".