Creating Counter-publics Against The Italian Mafia

Abstract

This study aims to develop insight into the new media’s struggle against the Mafia in Italy, taking the Libera Informazione, an anti-mafia civil society organization, which was established in 2007, as a case study. This article argues that the endeavours of the Libera Informazione include, first, creating a public sphere for anti-mafia entries into the media and then renewing public culture through channels in the constructed public sphere. During this process, communication strategies aim to inform the public at the local and national level to increase consciousness about the political-criminal nexus and activities of the mafia groups. Drawing in anthropological, moral, and reformist model of journalism, we assert that such a struggle is not attainable in the short-run but requires a consistent effort and inspiration, which already exist in the struggle of anti-mafia media establishments against the Mafia in Italy.