The Consul General of Italy in Sydney has been asked by the Italian Government to submit a statement on whether our publication meets the requirements for government funding from Italy. Since 2019, when Mr Andrea De Felip arrived in Sydney, we have attempted on a number of occasions to establish a cordial working relationship with the incumbent Consul General, however, our requests for a meeting have not been granted to this day. As an editorial team, we respectfully disagree with the below statement put forward by Consul General on 5 April 2023. In a democracy, we believe it is only fair to allow our readers and the public to form their own views about its content. For comments on this matter, please write to us at: editor@alloranews.com.
“Application for the publication “Allora!” in support of Italian language periodicals published and distributed abroad in 2022 – Statement on the access requirements pursuant to Article 21, paragraph 3, letter b) of Legislative Decree no. 70/2017
1 – Actual dissemination of the publication among the relevant Italian community. There is no evidence to assess the actual dissemination, and note is taken of what the applicant has declared in the accompanying documentation submitted with the application for support.
2 – Real relevance of its informative function. While featuring various types of news, the publication, also due to its weekly periodicity, is characterised more as an opinion and lifestyle magazine rather than a news publication.
3 – Treatment of topics of interest to the relevant Italian community, taking into account the dissemination of the Italian language and culture, as well as the contribution to promoting the Italian System abroad. Ample space is given to reporting community events and articles related to the history and customs of our country, with a dedicated section on the Italian language. Regarding the contribution to promoting the Italian system, however, it is observed that the editorial line of the periodical appears ultimately tainted by anti-institutional prejudice and a polemical attitude aimed at creating divisions within the Italian community. This is also done through articles containing defamatory content or systematically resorting to the untruthful representation of facts and news, which thereby exceed the boundaries of legitimate exercise of the right to criticise.
Sydney, 5 April 2023. Andrea De Felip, Consul General of Italy in Sydney”
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