Emilio Fede, the former TV journalist who has died at the age of 94, was a leading figure in the early years of public service broadcasting in Italy, state broadcaster Rai said of the anchor who would become more widely known for his support for late ex premier Silvio Berlusconi, his later employer and close friend.
Rai "remembers Emilio Fede with emotion," a statement said.
"A leading figure in the early years of the public service, Fede joined Rai in 1958 as a contract anchor, and later served as a special correspondent in Africa for eight years," the statement reads.
"As a TG1 anchor, he appeared on the first colour edition, on February 28, 1977.
"He served as director of the flagship network's news program for two years, then as deputy director until his contract with the company ended in 1987."
