European Journalists April Issue | Page 29

Since   January   1994   the   Italian   broadcasters   had   introduced   a   colour-­‐code   appearing   on   the   screen   at   the   beginning   of   each   TV   production,   the   so   called   “traffic-­‐light   system”,   where   green   indicates   the   programmes   that   children   can   watch   without   any   concern,  yellow  suggests  parental  guidance,  red  marks   programmes  unsuitable  for  children.     Television   represents   the   first   and   magnificent   media   of   the   Italian   Republic.                 In   the   ‘50s   and   ‘60s,   thanks   to   its   broadcast   models,   it   united   the   country   from   the   political   and   linguistic   point   of   view,   it   helped   the   Italians   to   create   their   common  language,  it  helped  the  people  to  be  free.  Who  complains  of  television   thinks  that  society  doesn’t  need  this  sort  of  media,    because  of  the  belief  that  the   Italians  are  so  cultured  that  they  don’t  need  it,  some  believe  that  it  is  out  of  date.   In   spite   of   all   sort   of   critics,   we   must   say   that   up   to   fifty   years   ago,   million   Italians   were  illiterate  and  that  it  keeps  company  to  a  large  number  of  elderly  and    sick   people   ,   it   makes   children   be   happy   and   that   it   has   an   important   role   in   the   cultural   information,   in   the   inclination   of   the   minds,   in   the   way   of   living   of     the   Italian  people.   The   only   recommendation   is:   “be   intelligent   to   use   it   and   subject   it   to   your   needs!“   Maria Romeo