Veteran Sky Tg24 Political Reporter Paola Motta Dies at 58
Rome, March 31, 2025 – The Italian journalism community is mourning the loss of Paola Motta, a seasoned political reporter and familiar face on Sky Tg24, who passed away at the age of 58. Motta, who would have celebrated her birthday in June, leaves behind a legacy of over two decades of dedicated reporting, marked by professionalism, insight, and an unwavering commitment to informing the public about the intricacies of Italian politics.
A Career Rooted in Passion and Precision
Born in Merano, a picturesque town in Alto Adige, Motta’s journey into journalism began on the pages of local print media. She cut her teeth at a regional newspaper before moving to Rome, where she joined the prestigious Corriere della Sera as an intern. Her early career coincided with a pivotal moment in Italian politics—the rise of Silvio Berlusconi in the mid-1990s—where she honed her skills as a trainee at L’Informazione. This formative period shaped her into a meticulous chronicler of political affairs.
Motta later returned to her native Alto Adige, joining the staff of Alto Adige, a Bolzano-based daily, where she covered the dynamic political landscape of Italy’s northeast. Her work took her to Belluno in the late 1990s, reporting on the burgeoning northern mayoral movement and the Lega Nord’s bold maneuvers, including their symbolic occupation of St. Mark’s Campanile in Venice. These experiences solidified her reputation as a journalist unafraid to dive into the heart of complex stories.
In 2003, Motta made the leap to television, joining Sky Tg24 at its inception. As part of the channel’s founding team, she helped shape its identity as Italy’s premier all-news network. Over the next 22 years, she became a cornerstone of its political desk, delivering incisive coverage of parliamentary proceedings, government transitions, and key national events. One of her standout moments came in October 2022, when she reported live on Giorgia Meloni’s first day as Italy’s Prime Minister—a historic milestone she narrated with her characteristic clarity and poise.
A Voice of Integrity in Political Journalism
Motta’s approach to journalism was defined by a rare blend of rigor and relatability. In a 2010 interview with Fuorionda TV, she reflected on the challenges of her beat: “The difficulty is telling the story of politics without writing pieces that are self-referential, useful only to politicians and political journalists. The mission… is to be understood.” This ethos guided her work, ensuring that her reports bridged the gap between the corridors of power and the living rooms of ordinary Italians.
Colleagues and viewers alike admired her gentle demeanor and sharp intellect. On social media, she described herself with humility and curiosity: “I walk, I travel, I marvel, and in the meantime, I’m a journalist.” Her passion for storytelling extended beyond the newsroom, reflecting a life lived with purpose and wonder.
Tributes Pour In from Across the Spectrum
News of Motta’s death sent shockwaves through Italy’s media and political circles. Alessandro Giuli, the Minister of Culture, expressed his grief in a heartfelt statement: “I am filled with pain and disbelief at the loss of my friend and colleague Paola Motta, a political reporter at Sky Tg24 since its origins, who narrated over 20 years of Italian institutional history with grace and professionalism. Her insight and passion will be missed by all who value information. My deepest condolences to her newsroom and my closeness to her family and loved ones.”
Senate President Ignazio La Russa echoed these sentiments, writing on Facebook: “I learned with sincere and profound sorrow of Paola Motta’s passing. I recall her kind manner and great professionalism. Italian journalism and Sky Tg24, where she dedicated many years, lose a serious and skilled political chronicler.” Chamber of Deputies President Lorenzo Fontana added, “She was a scrupulous and competent professional. My thoughts are with her family, her loved ones, and her Sky Tg24 colleagues.”
The Association of Parliamentary Press also mourned her loss, describing her as “passionate and meticulous, always affable and smiling with everyone.” Her death marks not just the end of a distinguished career but the loss of a warm presence in an often contentious field.
A Lasting Legacy
Paola Motta’s passing leaves a void at Sky Tg24 and in the broader landscape of Italian journalism. Her tenure at the network spanned some of the most transformative years in Italy’s political history, from economic crises to coalition upheavals, all of which she documented with an eye for detail and a commitment to truth. As the first generation of Sky Tg24 reporters begins to fade, her contributions stand as a testament to the power of journalism done right.
While the cause of her death has not been disclosed, the outpouring of grief underscores the impact she had on those who knew her and those who relied on her reporting. The newsroom she helped build, the colleagues she inspired, and the audience she informed now bid farewell to a trailblazer whose voice will echo in the archives of Italian media.
As Italy reflects on her life, Motta’s words about her craft resonate more than ever: to make the complex accessible, to illuminate rather than obscure. In that mission, she succeeded unequivocally, leaving behind a blueprint for the journalists who will follow in her footsteps.
