Emilio Fede, a prominent figure in Italian television and longtime director of TG4, died Tuesday at the age of 94. He passed away at the San Felice nursing home in Segrate, just outside Milan, where he had been living due to declining health. His funeral will be held Thursday at the Dio Padre parish in Segrate.
Fede, who worked in journalism for more than five decades, became a familiar face in both Italy and Malta during his time with TG4, the news channel under Silvio Berlusconi’s Mediaset network. He served as the channel’s news director from 1992 to 2012, gaining widespread recognition for his distinctive delivery and close alignment with Berlusconi’s political stance.
Career spanning print and broadcast media
He started his career in print journalism, writing for Il Momento – Mattino in Rome and Gazzetta del Popolo in Turin. In the 1970s, he transitioned to broadcasting with RAI, Italy’s public broadcaster. Fede anchored TG1, the network’s flagship news program, beginning in 1976, and served as its director from 1981 to 1983.
In 1987, he left RAI following a gambling-related court case in which he was acquitted. Two years later, he joined Berlusconi’s Fininvest media group, where he directed Videonews and Studio Aperto before taking charge of TG4.
Controversies and legal troubles
Throughout his career, Fede became known for his unwavering support of Berlusconi, often drawing criticism for the partisan tone of his news coverage. This loyalty earned him a strong following as well as vocal detractors, solidifying his place as one of Italy’s most polarizing media personalities.
His later years were marred by legal troubles. In 2011, he was investigated in connection with the “Ruby case,” which involved accusations of aiding and abetting prostitution linked to parties hosted by Berlusconi. Italy’s Supreme Court confirmed his four-year and seven-month sentence in 2019. Due to his age, Fede served the sentence under house arrest.
Final years and legacy
In 2014, he was also questioned by Palermo prosecutors over potential ties between Berlusconi, former senator Marcello Dell’Utri, and the Sicilian mafia, based on secret audio recordings from 2012.
According to his daughter Sveva, Emilio Fede remained mentally alert until the day before his death. He died alone, without the presence of former colleagues or media figures, a quiet ending to a career that had once been highly public and controversial.
