Defamation. Ossigeno’s grant to journalist Bocchetti, who recounts his ordeal

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OSSIGENO 3 July 2026 – Ossigeno’s Legal Aid Service, which operates in collaboration with the British ONG Media Defence, has awarded Italian journalist Ferdinando Bocchetti of Marano (Naples) a financial grant to help cover the legal costs of a defamation case he brought against the son of a well-known figure in organised crime in the Marano area. The trial concluded with the conviction of the person responsible for the defamation, which was upheld on appeal. In this article written for Ossigeno, the journalist recounts the story and his life as a reporter in the area north of Naples, which is marked by lawsuits, intimidation and sacrifices.

I am Ferdinando Bocchetti, the founder and editor-in-chief of Terranostranews, an online news outlet established in 2015. For many years, I have been a correspondent for *Il Mattino di Napoli*, covering numerous municipalities in the area north of Naples, including Marano, Quarto, Mugnano, Melito, Qualiano, Giugliano, Villaricca and Calvizzano. I am 51 years old and have always covered mainly legal, crime and political news in a particularly complex area, marked by a strong presence of organised crime and numerous incidents that have led to local authorities being placed under special administration or dissolved due to mafia infiltration.

Since I took over as editor-in-chief of Terranostranews, I have been subjected to a veritable legal ordeal. Over the years, I have been the subject of around forty defamation lawsuits brought by mayors, former mayors, councillors, municipal advisers, senior officials, civil servants and businesspeople. Many of these cases were dismissed at the preliminary stage, whilst others concluded with acquittals on the merits following lengthy trials.

To defend myself, I have had to engage the services of numerous solicitors and incur substantial legal costs, which are often beyond the financial means of a freelance journalist and a small local newspaper. Some cases have dragged on for years, resulting not only in high costs but also a heavy psychological burden.

Among the various legal cases I have faced, I recall the acquittals obtained in the lawsuits brought by public officials and administrators of the Municipality of Marano, as well as those brought by a former mayor who was subsequently committed for trial and then involved in a trial that culminated in his conviction for aiding and abetting a mafia organisation. In that case, I was also called to give evidence as a witness for the prosecution.

Over the years, numerous articles I have written have featured prominently in reports drawn up by the Ministry of the Interior and the Prefecture of Naples as part of the investigations that led to the dissolution of several local authorities due to Mafia infiltration. Among these is the Municipality of Marano, which has been dissolved on five occasions in its history due to Mafia involvement: a national record that testifies to the sensitivity of the context in which I work on a daily basis.

As confirmation of the validity and public interest of the published reports, some of my articles have also been cited in judicial rulings and investigative documents. Despite this, I have continued to face lawsuits, legal proceedings and attempts at intimidation.

Throughout my professional career, I have been the target of threats and severe personal attacks, to the extent that I have had to report family members of organised crime figures and individuals linked to criminal circles. The intimidation I have endured has, in the recent past, even led to the police providing me with a form of protection.

On several occasions, I have considered leaving this profession. The risks, the responsibilities, the financial costs and the personal strain often outweigh the rewards. Yet the determination to continue reporting on what is happening in the region has always prevailed over the bitterness that has built up over the years.

For this reason, I would like to thank Ossigeno per l’Informazione once again, along with its president, the members of the Observatory and lawyer Andrea Di Pietro, for the moral and practical support they continue to provide me with. Their help has not been limited to the financial grant I was awarded to help cover the legal costs incurred over the years, but continues to this day as I face yet another legal case, which has now concluded successfully.

Most recently, in fact, the trial against the person who had seriously defamed me on social media concluded with a conviction, which was upheld on appeal. The perpetrator of the attacks was the son of a well-known and dangerous crime boss operating in the area.

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