Emilio Fede has died, he was 94 years old

Emilio Fede passed away Tuesday at the age of 94. His health condition had worsened in recent days and he had been hospitalized for some time at the San Felice Residence in Segrate, on the outskirts of Milan, where he was continuously cared for.

In recent years he had reduced public appearances to a minimum, but maintained relations with some friends and longtime colleagues in the world of news and politics.

Fede was one of the most recognizable figures in Italian television journalism. His career began at RAI in the 1960s, where he made his mark as a war correspondent in Vietnam and the Middle East. He later became the face of the public network’s main news programs until taking over as director of Tg1 in the 1980s.

The turning point came with his arrival at Fininvest: Silvio Berlusconi personally wanted him at the helm of Tg4, which he directed continuously for 20 years, from 1992 to 2012. Alongside his journalistic activity, Fede was also a well-rounded television personality, often a talk show host and the protagonist of memorable siparietti that strengthened his fame.