Marco Bazzi, how would you describe the state of the press and information in Ticino today?
We often talk about a hyper-mediatized Canton. But we forget that until a few years ago, there were more newspapers than there are today. Then websites proliferated, and journalism became more neurotic, sometimes compulsive, to satisfy consumers of 'fast food' news. That said, I believe the Ticino landscape is rich and diverse. The main problem, however, concerns the economic stability of the system: the lack of advertising resources, their drastic reduction in recent years, and the orientation of many advertisers toward social networks and large web players—which give nothing back to the community, not even in the form of taxes—except toward advertising agencies that think only in logarithms. The crisis in the advertising market inevitably puts many media outlets in difficulty; others are holding up better because they are backed by publishing groups or foundations, or because they benefit from the license fee.
You often talk about “independent journalism”: what does this mean in concrete terms in your daily work?
I believe that to be independent, in journalism as in life, you first need the ability to resist pressure. In my opinion, today more than ever, we need journalists with strong personalities—strong, not arrogant—and who are able to resist the various forms of subjugation that guarantee a more comfortable life. Unfortunately, the 'I have a family' sentiment is a constant threat on the road to independence, and not just in journalism. Independence, which, as far as my career is concerned, has always been a guiding principle: from Giornale del Popolo to subsequent experiences, up to Teleticino and then to LiberatvIn any case, I don't know if it was luck, I never felt any particular pressure, not even when I found myself dealing with very sensitive issues. Today, in the case of LiberatvIndependence means, above all, one concrete thing: we have no "bosses," as Andrea Leoni and I are the only shareholders. It's clear that there are inevitable forms of dependence that must be managed: from advertisers, sponsors, but also from friendships and sympathies. No media outlet or journalist lives in an aseptic bubble. And "absolute" independence doesn't even exist. Independence is simply a goal to strive for, like happiness or perfection. But it should be a constant light—an 'on air' or a 'warning'—and guide the work of those who do this job.
In the 90s he contributed to the birth of Teleticino. What do you still consider fundamental from that experience to understanding the evolution of Ticino's media today?
«Teleticino It was born from a journey that began in the autumn of 1994, when Filippo Lombardi called me and said: “Look, there is this multimedia project to do, a collaboration between the People's Journal e Telechampion”. So we set off with People's Coffee, an information window on the Italian network that had its studio in Melide. A few years later, the federal concession arrived and officially began. TeleticinoI think it's undeniable that the tiny, private hub of the time, jaunty and dynamic, prompted the 'RSI battleship' to update some of its dated approaches. At the beginning, we were three journalists and two cameramen, working with inexpensive resources and equipment. Yet, despite few believing in our chances, not just of success, but even of survival, precisely in that pioneering period we demonstrated that television could be made even with limited resources, maintaining a decent level of quality, which has since grown over the years. We also helped rejuvenate political debates. In short, without false modesty, I think I can say that we helped change the way television was made in Ticino.
Because in 2012 he felt the need to found Liberatv.ch? What was the need that traditional media were no longer meeting?
«The birth of Liberatv.ch (the domain libera.ch was already occupied, that's why the extension 'tv') in 2012 is linked to a later phase: when the group entered Corriere del TicinoFilippo Lombardi sold his shares, and a moment of tension arose. Andrea and I believed that at that point the conditions were no longer there to continue the work we were doing in full independence. We even considered the possibility of creating a small television company without a license fee. Then we realized the costs would be excessive, and we decided to start over online: a site that included multimedia and video content. Later, when the conditions were right, we resumed our collaboration with Teleticino (me with Matryoshka, he with Between us) which continues – I believe – to the full satisfaction of both parties. At the beginning Liberatv It was a generalist site: news, crime and judicial affairs, politics... Then, over the years the web landscape has changed: RSI has significantly increased its online presence; the same has been done Courier e Region. So competition on the web has multiplied. We've therefore decided to focus primarily on politics—cantonal, national, and international—and on opinions, interviews, and in-depth articles. Anyone with something intelligent to say, from any area, knows that our doors are open, and there are even people who send us contributions regularly.
How Does Liberatv.ch still stand out from more conventional news channels today, even in terms of language and format?
The first point is content selection. We don't chase minute-by-minute news; we prefer a more rigorous selection and greater attention to detail in the packaging of the news: choice of headlines and photos, careful copywriting...
The column ““Liscio e macchiato” has become a regular feature for many readers: what is the main objective of this video press review?
The idea stems from a simple question: is there really a "big" news story every day that could open a news site in Ticino? Sometimes yes, but often not. So the risk is that we're forced to find an opening, repeating the same story and the same tone found on other portals. So we decided to create something of our own: a podcast that draws on national, international, cantonal, and sometimes municipal news, selecting four or five facts or opinions that we believe are relevant and suitable for commentary. We also often repost news that no one in Ticino has yet read, because it's published by media beyond the Gotthard. The podcast is online every day from Monday to Friday around 9:00 a.m.: on YouTube, Spotify, and, of course, on our website. And over the past two years, our audience has grown: it's establishing itself as a product with a good following.
How does his activity as a writer connect to his latest work ““The supervisor of the colors of the lake” to non-fiction, with his journalistic path?
It began well before my journalism career. Since I was a teenager, I've been writing poems and stories... In recent years, I've published two more structured books: The overseer of the lake's colors e The Pirates of Lake Maggiore, a historical novel that recounts a gang war in Brissago at the end of the sixteenth century. "The Overseer of the Colors of the Lake" was born as a fictional novel, but also draws on ideas from my work as a crime and judicial reporter. It was a natural cross-pollination. That said, writing journalistic texts—or hosting a debate program like Matryoshka – It's very different from writing literature: the pace, language, and approach change. Although some readers have pointed out to me that the novel has a distinct journalistic edge: you can sense it was written by a journalist.
When you're not working, what are your passions or personal interests that accompany you in your daily life?
I have several, though free time is limited because my professional activity is still intense, despite my age. Besides writing, reading stands out. Then there's my family, a daily commitment that takes up a large part of my life. I work from home a lot and am fortunate to have a wonderful wife who puts up with me and to be able to raise my son with a constant presence. Then there are other passions: the mountains—which I'd like to take up again when my son is a little older—fishing, travel, music, cooking, and finally, a bit of physical and mental discipline: I took up karate again about a year ago, which I practiced for several years when I was younger.
