Augusto Minzolini is one of the most controversial characters of the Italian media world. Having previously been a political correspondent for La Stampa and having followed closely Silvio Berlusconi since his very first steps in politics, he was recently appointed editor of TG1. His critics say that this was a reward to the loyalty he had shown to the Prime Minister in the last few years of his career.

Yesterday, Minzolini's conduct came under the scrutiny of the Parliamentary body which is in charge of overlooking Rai. He was under accusation for not giving enough emphasis to the news concerning the Berlusconi’s sex scandal. Minzolini, who famously once said that “every aspect of a politician’s life is public”, said that times have changed from when he had made that statement and that on this occasion he had treated the issue with prudence and sobriety.

The most interesting point of the Minzolini audition concerns the role of the so-called editoriali, the opinion pieces which Minzolini famously transmitted on two occasions during the 8pm news. In the first one, he defended his conduct over the reporting of the PM's sex scandal, while in the second one he attacked the demonstration denouncing the lack of freedom of press in Italy.

In the audition, Minzolini said that it is well within his right to produce opinion pieces, as other journalists have the right to do so in other TV programs or newspaper columns. However, given its popularity, TG1 is seen by many as some sort of island of neutrality, which should not contain opinion pieces. Minzolini, some MPs countered, should be more of a team-player and less of an individualist. As the MP President of the supervisory body, Sergio Zavoli, said with a football metaphor, Minzolini should be “more like Pirlo and less like Gilardino”.

Should he? Or should opinion pieces be allowed, even on public service broadcasting news?