Gavrila M. (2024), “Italian Radio Drama—Catalyzing Expressive Innovation and Social Change: The Prix Italia”

The chapter explores Italian radio drama from the perspective of closely related foundational events that have had the most significant impact on the developments of this radio genre: the birth of Prix Italia (Capri, 1948), the establishment of the cultural radio channel of RAI – Italian Public Service Broadcasting, the Terzo Programma/The Third Program (now Radio Tre Rai), two years later (1950), and the inauguration of the Studio di Fonologia Musicale of RAI in Milan (1955). This allowed the exploration of new sound treatment methods, also considering their use in radio, television, and film productions. Specifically, the establishment of Prix Italia, the oldest international award for broadcasters, will play a central role in the analysis. It will serve as a focal point for highlighting trends that have influenced Italian radio drama, viewed within the larger context of the international stage. Specific attention is given to the awards obtained by Italy within this international competition, revealing three main trends: 1. The awarded productions, often addressing socially relevant themes, serve a function of technological, expressive, and social innovation, utilizing the Prix Italia as a megaphone to raise awareness and amplify political, social, and cultural messages on an international level. 2. There is a shift from a resolute investment in experimentation and the production of radio dramas in the 1950s-1970s to a lesser appreciation of the genre, possibly due to a shift of interest by Rai towards television. In some years, this resulted in a lower representation and even a total absence of Italy in the Prix Italia radio drama category. 3. After an Italian radio drama crisis, there is a digital resurgence. Old dramas are reissued on the radio networks web platforms. Storytelling and radio drama techniques blend into genres like investigative journalism and documentaries, often as podcasts.