ROME, April 1: Journalists at two Italian TV channels complained management made them stop a report on the Pope’s failing health on Thursday night while Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was speaking on another channel. Reporters for state broadcaster RAI’s TG3 newscast said they were forced to stop a live report on the Pope. At Mediaset, controlled by Mr Berlusconi’s family, journalists at TG5 criticized their channel for not breaking in with the news.

Mr Berlusconi, who effectively controls most Italian television through his positions as prime minister and through Mediaset, was being interviewed on a RAI channel three days before Italy goes to the polls for regional elections.

“We are indignant and shocked at what happened last night when news began to arrive about the worsening of the Pope’s health,” TG3 reporters said in a statement. “Management forced us to stop the live broadcast to leave space for a scheduled programme. While every other TV in the world started their broadcasts with news from the Vatican, TG3 had to shut down to satisfy the decision to broadcast the recorded Berlusconi interview on RAI 1,” they said.

RAI said the criticisms were “groundless” and a spokesman said TG3 had been asked when it was going off air so other RAI news broadcasts could start.

Journalists at TG5 said Mediaset’s Canale 5 made do with a banner headline flashed across the screen to alert people to the Pope’s health. —Reuters