The themes of authoritative and credible journalism in the year of the pandemic, but also the fun with Amadeus and Fiorello animated the XII edition of the Biagio Agnes Prize conducted by Mara Venier and Alberto Matano, broadcast last Saturday on Rai1

The protagonists of the most authoritative and rigorous Italian and international journalism and some of the celebrities and cultural figures most loved by the public have met with Rai1, on the occasion of the awards ceremony of XII edition of the Biagio Agnes Award. The Prize established by Simona Agnes was presented, exceptionally from the study of Sunday In, by the extraordinary couple composed of Mara Venier and Alberto Matano, with the participation of Rai President Marcello Foa, the director of Rai1 Stefano Coletta and the president of the Jury Gianni Letta and Simona Agnes, president of the Foundation.

An evening full of food for thought, punctuated by the many video links with the winners who received the prestigious award dedicated to the historic Director General of Rai, during which the importance was emphasized, even more so in this difficult year, of correct and credible information.

“That of 2020 it was a difficult edition, made possible thanks to Rai, to the two conductors and to the great Rai1 team”, he said Simona Agnes, in front of a Mara Venier moved in the memory of Biagio Agnes, to which she was linked by a deep friendship. Simona Agnes also wanted to underline how important they were for this XII edition “the determination, willpower, preparation and seriousness, things that my father demanded of others but first of all from himself. And we try to follow his example”.

During the award ceremony, the President of Rai Marcello Foa wanted to underline how the Agnes Award is “An encouragement to serious journalism, of quality and high profile ".

Also the president of the jury of the Agnes Prize, Gianni Letta, reaffirmed the fundamental role of information in the period of the pandemic, a tool “perhaps more important than medicines”. “We must ask ourselves, however, if we have not perhaps exaggerated with an excess of communication, because from morning to night we discussed covid”, he added, “sometimes the debate has degenerated into chatter. Not all journalists know how to be measured and responsible”.

During the evening there was no lack of fun moments, as during the award ceremony of Amadeus and Fiorello, who for their 70th Sanremo won the "Tv Event of the Year Award". "Looking at the images of Sanremo last February, I am moved not so much by the friendship with Fiorello that has existed 35 years, how much because it was everyone's festival, where we hugged, we shook hands, we used to kiss ", he said Amadeus, “This will probably not happen at the next Sanremo, but at least see the light, being able to think again that you are close to normal, I sincerely wish that for everyone ". Receiving the Agnes Amadeus Award and Fiorello expressed great satisfaction and happiness: "It is an honor to be rewarded", they said, but also expressing a certain "regret" for having received the recognition, Amadeus said, "In the tavern at home and not in Sorrento", where the awards ceremony was supposed to take place.“I made myself half a bottle of limoncello”, he joked instead Fiorello, very elegant in a tuxedo. To reward them because “extraordinary artists who have created a record Festival” (this is the motivation) was the director of Rai1 Stefano Coletta. “I couldn't give a better prize, because these two gentlemen really deserve it. When talent is accompanied by authenticity, the audience recognizes it. And their Sanremo was perhaps the most beautiful festival I can remember, an extraordinary professional experience”, Coletta said, “Fiorello and Amadeus played generously without ever wanting to prevail over each other, with a great capacity for improvisation, without filter. Amadeus, always rigorous, instead he let himself be carried away by Fiorello”, he added admitting to “envy Susanna, Fiorello's wife because she lives with him who is the unpredictable. With Fiorello anything can happen. And compared to the boredom of life it is the best thing that can happen”.

In connection with Mara Venier and Alberto Matano many illustrious award winners of this edition 2020 which, as usual, has combined attention to the national panorama with an international outlook: as well as Amadeus and Fiorello, also Roula Khalaf, first female director of Financial Times in 131 years of history, which was awarded the "International Award"; The brilliant friend with Saverio Costanzo which received the "Fiction Award". And then the “Radio Award” a Luca Barbarossa and Andrea Perroni for "Radio2 Social Club" and the "Sports Journalism Award" awarded to "All football minute by minute", historic radio program of which i 60 years, and the Prize dedicated to the memory and memory of Ida Colucci, passionate journalist and generous professional, first female director of Tg2 and in the past parliamentary reporter, disappeared in August 2019. Finally, the “New Frontiers of Journalism Award” was awarded to RaiPlay, directed by Elena Capparelli, for the fundamental contribution to the digital literacy of the public. For newspapers, Viviana Mazza del Corriere della Sera was awarded the "Reportage Award", Dino Pesole by Il Sole 24 Ore received the "Economic Journalist Award", mentre a Vittorio Del Tufo (The morning), Simone Canettieri (The paper) e David Allegranti (The paper) respectively the "Award for Cultural Dissemination", the "Printed Paper Award" and the "Under 40 Award". Still women awarded for talent and professionalism: Alessandra Sardoni (La7) won the "Tv Journalism Award", Danda Santini, director Io Donna, the "Periodic Press Award" while a Piera Detassis (President and Artistic Director of the Academy of Italian Cinema – David di Donatello Awards) the "Cinema Award" went. Four important signatures, finally, have been awarded the "Writer Journalist Award", Maurizio Molinari, Alessandra Necci, Antonio Polito e Andrea Vianello.

The Biagio Agnes Foundation has also awarded a Scholarship ranked first in the ranking of the Higher School of Journalism of the Luiss University of Rome.