Dec. 3 – How can we enhance Italian style and food and wine as key drivers for economic development, and how can we reward those information operators, that, with their work, support these activities? This is the objective of the first edition of the Italian Talent Award, a journalism award “against counterfeiting and for Italian excellence” that took place yesterday at the Lower Chamber of Parliament. The initiative is promoted by the “Italian Talent Association,” chaired by Sandra Cioffi, in collaboration with Goodinitalywebtv, directed by journalist Stefania Giacomini; it was sponsored by the Senate, the Ministries of Health, and of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, the ICE Agency, as well as the Lazio Region and Roma Capitale. The awards ceremony was attended by representatives of Italian institutions and by the entrepreneurial world. The vice chairman of the Lower House, Marina Sereni, awarded the special “Italian Style” prize to Anna Fendi. “It’s a great honor and a great pleasure to be here – said Sereni – I think the award is a really good idea and I am proud that the Chamber of Deputies was able to host it.” “The international competition Italian products face from ‘Italian sounding’ counterfeit products cannot be defeated only with the undisputed quality of Italian products – commented Sandra Cioffi – but it needs proper communication strategies in Italy and abroad. It’s great that our government, in an innovative way, and with a common strategy across different Ministries, chose to invest more resources in marketing and communications to educate consumers on how to recognize and appreciate true ‘made in Italy’. The battle must be fought on all fronts, but we need more international laws and European regulations for ad hoc measures.” “Competent and ethically correct information – adds Giacomini – plays a decisive role for the promotion of Italy. Positive results have been achieved by many foreign countries who established targeted communications campaigns. These campaigns – adds the journalist – should focus on food, wine and design quality; but they need to last for long periods of time, and need to be supported with adequate investments.”
