Corrado Augeas: “What a disappointment, the Rai CEO’s words are vulgar”

I confess I was surprised, or rather disappointed. The words with which the general director of Rai Giampaolo Rossi Comments about my departure from the company are so inappropriate that they sound lost and are tinged with vulgarity. It’s a shame, because when I met him I had the impression of a handsome gentleman with a very well-groomed appearance, his handsome oval face highlighted by a short, flawless beard. A handsome man who is able to mention a few books and a touching family story in conversation, which of course I keep silent about. Maybe it was just a device, he recites.

He told the chamber’s culture committee: “Our goal is not to secure the salary of Augenias, but to look after 12,000 employees.” My God, who has ever talked about money in this melancholy matter? Throwing a handful of coins into the air has been a common trick since the world began. But what does money have to do with it here? Even more so when you compare one person’s salary with the well-being of 12,000 families? There are dialectical rules that should be respected. The first is to face proportionate arguments. One against 12,000 is definitely too much. As if that wasn’t enough, the general director wanted to give me another lash and added: “Rai survived the farewell to Baudo, he will also survive the farewell to Augenias.” Pippo Baudo He is a brilliant entertainer who has been directing hugely popular programs for decades. More modestly, I am an author of book programs and symphonic music. The only thing I have in common with Baudo is the respect and personal sympathy I have for him. The direct comparison between us only served to humiliate me.

I’m telling the truth, it’s a shame that the handsome gentleman I met turned out to be a bumbling antagonist. I wonder if this isn’t the reason for the numerous stumbling blocks that new programming has faced in recent months. I do not bring up my numerous mistakes or even those of Dr. Rossi to the language, everyone has their own life and their own preferences. However, I am discussing the method: A senior manager should find a way to argue – even hastily, mind you – without indulging in insults. A factual answer is not impossible if you are aware of your actions and your cultural choices. What prevented General Director Rossi from expressing himself more appropriately? Example: “You are wrong, Augenias. Trying to balance the tone of the “narrative” that has been told on Rai screens for years, we agree that a part of the country that is now the majority and still matters has long been underrepresented is. This is not right, it is not democratic, we have to fix it; You are free to leave, but you have no objection to our decisions.”

Corrado Augenias during the presentation of the program “La Gioia della Musica” at the Rai headquarters in Viale Mazzini in Rome, May 5, 2022. ANSA/CLAUDIO PERI (ansa)

From politeness you can develop a polemical force that is, if you will, dialectical, stronger than from a few dilapidated insults. There is only one positive aspect of the Director General’s departure today that I would like to highlight here: he helped me to understand even better why it was right to leave. No grudges, unique Suum.