Enrico Mentana celebrates his birthday, and despite having climbed the hill in the sixties and leftover grisaille, it does not lose its enamel. Sixty-four years old, a symbolic face of Italian television journalism par excellence and a rhythm that has always distinguished him. Enrico Mentana, known as "Mitraglietta" or "Chicco", Milanese, son of art, predestined in the craft of journalism, especially with regard to politics, he is always on track.
Enrico Mentana from TG1 to TG5
Mentana from high school exerts his political passion, and leaves university studies well to devote himself body and soul to journalism. In 1973, at the age of eighteen, he entered the Gazette dello Sport as a proofreader, where his father worked. The first article he found himself correcting was from the parent, a great professional, and it was without errors!
It was probably in his destiny and so he entered Gazette after passing the professional journalist exam. Mentana elbowed in the midst of many giants of journalism of the Status TV, and then passed to Mediaset. “Chicco Mentana knew he was taking a risk, but it was amply repaid. The 90s were a “great season for him. In 1995 with a group of colleagues, including Cesara Bonamici, he founded TG5. The first broadcast took place on January 13, 1995, and is still remembered with great emotion by the founders.
Chicco Mentana creator of Matrix
Enrico Mentana, so dynamic, fast, soul and body dedicated to journalistic passion, always looks ahead and creates the talk show Matrix in 2005. The idea was to invent a worthy competitor to what is considered the "third chamber of the state", or "Porta a Porta."
Over the years, Chicco Mentana has shown that he has seen us right, since Matrix has given Bruno Vespa a hard time, but Enrico does not stop. In 2009 he also leaves Mediaset and with new blood moves to LA7. "Machine gun", as the Milanese journalist is amiably called, declared that his journalism stems from his love and admiration for his father. Over the years, his inevitable television marathons have remained famous, especially during elections or topical events. Enrico Mentana has often held the role of moderator of the comparisons, always on the occasion of political elections; Berlusconi-Occhetto (1994), Berlusconi-Prodi (1996).
"Mitraglietta Mentana" from playstation to self-irony
Journalism is also intertwined with entertainment, as Chicco Mentana conducts "The three tenors" with Maurizio Costanzo, a tribute program to Bongiorno; Corrado and Vianello. In addition to television, Enrico Mentana publishes "Passionaccia" for Rizzoli and is a successful sales in bookstores. The hashtag #maratonamentana on Twitter there is a boom in twittering, and the in-depth program conducted by him “Target mobile.
Mentana became famous not only for being a great host, and anchorman, but also for his comments on Facebook posts. The Milanese journalist stood out for his great mastery in the use of social media. On his page, sarcasm and sagacity reach peaks of great style. His posts are among the most shared of all time in the trending topic. Mentana says to play the Playstation to get distracted, and never lose sight of the irony, but above all the self-irony.
Few friends and little worldliness
Enrico Mentana he says he has few friends, and none among the journalists, but good relations with his colleagues, because for him true friends are something else. According to "Mitraglietta", friend is a serious word, an important concept, and those who say they have a hundred friends are not very credible. He says his right hand is enough to count his own. "Chicco Mentana " it is not very worldly. He is someone who manages to go to the cinema a couple of times a year and sometimes finds himself in trouble; when they pointed out a girl who looked like Lady Gaga, and he didn't know who she was.
Time for private life is short. Enrico Mentana has four children: Giulio, Vittoria, Alice and Stefano. They were born from different relationships and keeping everything together is not easy, but not impossible either. In 2002 he married Michela Rocco di Torrepadula, from whom he separated in 2013.
Remain historical in his career, at the beginning the commentary of the marriage between Charles of England and Lady Diana, since he was involved in foreign affairs. Then the interview with Mehmet Ali Ağca's mother immediately after the attack in St. Peter's Square remains famous. Tenderness always emerges for the memory of his parents, even for his mother who, being a Jew, saved herself in the woods during the war. "The Shoah was a huge twentieth century drama that should certainly not be denied, but my hope is that the extraordinary cultural trend of Judaism can find its identity in something different ..." Mentana has never regretted having dropped out of university and his career proves him right. Our best wishes to a true symbol of Italian television journalism, an anchorman who has gone through many storms, and many seasons.
