Journalism and information. Towards a regional fund to support newspapers.

A new phase of support for quality publishing and information in Sicily has begun. The Budget Committee of the Sicilian Regional Assembly has approved Marianna Caronia's proposal, establishing a specialized section of the Sicily Fund (provided for by Regional Law 1/2019). This permanent instrument will allocate resources to print and digital newspapers, radio and television broadcasters, including EU broadcasters, press agencies, and publishing companies operating in Sicily.

The fund, which will be managed by IRFIS, provides subsidized loans and non-repayable grants for investments or working capital, with a total allocation of €4 million for the three-year period 2025-2027. Specifically, €3 million is reserved for media and press agencies that have been active in Sicily for at least three years with a dedicated regional news program, employ at least two journalists with regular contracts in the island, and are registered with the courts. €1 million is allocated to publishing companies that have produced at least ten books (ISBN codes) on Sicilian culture in the two-year period and have at least one employee who has been active in the region for three years.

Marianna Caronia emphasized the strategic value of the measure: "This fund is not just financial support, but a safeguard for democracy. The provision of qualified, regularly contracted journalists in newsrooms guarantees the quality of information and respect for workers' rights. Today more than ever, supporting accurate reporting means countering the spread of fake news and the distorted use of social media, which is flooded with false, manipulated, or unreliable information. We have a duty to invest in information as a common good."