In a communication ecosystem dominated by social media, digital reputation in journalism is not just a “business card”, but nourishes and consolidates professional identity. “Information and the web: social risks, digital reputation and personal branding between ethics, authority and storytelling” is the theme to which the next appointment of the ethical journalistic training course that Società Editrice Sud Gazzetta del Sud Giornale di Sicilia, with the GDS Academy, is conducting together with the Order of Journalists of Sicily and the University of Messina will be dedicated.
The event will be organized in synergy with LinkedIn, the social platform created specifically to facilitate professional networking, which today has over 1.3 billion users worldwide and more than 25 million in Italy and which for the first time collaborates with a local publishing company, in an academic context and accredited ethical journalistic training.
Starting from the art. 4 of the new code of ethics for journalists (Professional decorum and dignity – The journalist: a) applies the ethical principles in the use, even on a personal level, of any communication tool; b) adopts behavior and language that respect the dignity of the category and the decorum of the Order, even outside of professional activity) the main risks of conduct on social media will be analyzed between freedom of expression, ethical duties, prohibition of forms of advertising and responsibility for moderation on the account.
In terms of opportunities, offering practical tools to manage personal branding, the use of the LinkedIn platform will be explored in depth, not only as a professional “showcase”, but as a tool for strategic networking and data reporting on the world of work, and the power of storytelling as a possibility of qualitative resistance on the web in the age of automation.
The course aims to define guidelines for professional journalism, to navigate the pitfalls of social media, transforming digital presence from a potential risk to an element of authority and consolidation of public trust in quality information.
The activity is aimed not only at people registered with the journalists’ association, but also falls within the scope of the GDS Academy and UniMe Gds Lab, the journalism laboratory promoted by the University with Società Editrice Sud, with the participation of students of the University.
In this path, Ses places itself as a cultural reference in the area, between responsible information and training, in the promotion of accredited ethical journalistic training opportunities, of particular value for the category, and of comparison and in-depth analysis, also to build an aware public with particular reference to younger groups. This is also thanks to the important academic and scientific support coming from the University of Messina, with its various Departments: on this occasion, the synergy is with that of Political and Legal Sciences.
The course (free, in person) is held on Thursday 28 May 2026 from 3pm to 6.30pm in the SES auditorium, via Uberto Bonino, 15/C in Messina, and will open with greetings from Lino Morgante, president and editorial director of Società Editrice Sud Gazzetta del Sud Giornale di Sicilia; Marcello Albergoni, country manager LinkedIn Italy; Alessandro Morelli, director of the Department of Political and Legal Sciences UniMe; Concetto Mannisi, president of the Order of Journalists of Sicily; Nino Rizzo Nervo, editor in chief of the Gazzetta del Sud.
Speakers will be Antonella Astone, associate of Information Law at the UniMe Department of Political and Legal Sciences (Deontology on social media: the journalist’s conduct between private life and professional duty); Francesco Scalia, lawyer, journalist, member of the Territorial Discipline Council of the Order of Journalists of Sicily (Case history and responsibility for failure to moderate comments); Francesco Marino, project manager of Società Editrice Sud Gazzetta del Sud Giornale di Sicilia (The social strategies of a large publishing group: the voice and the signatures); Yari Bovalino, head of communications Southern Europe LinkedIn (LinkedIn: introduction to professional networking, the platform feed and the Economic Graph); Giovanni Villino, editor of the Giornale di Sicilia (Digital reputation: communication and marketing strategies applied to information to build trust with authenticity); Marianna Porcaro, content writer (Storytelling and narration: the power of stories to connect to the public in the digital age).
Moderated by Natalia La Rosa, journalist and head of GDS Academy and UniMe GDS Lab. At the end of the course, starting from 6.30 pm, Michele Pierri – head of Italy Editorial Team and head of LinkedIn News – will lead the free professional module “LinkedIn for Journalists”, which also offers a Premium coupon for professional journalist participants. The module will last approximately 45 minutes, with an important opportunity for professional development and improvement of digital skills. Registrations: www.formazionegiornalisti.it (5 ethical credits)