Lando Ferretti

Lando Ferretti (2 May 1895 in Pontedera, Province of Pisa – 8 January 1977 in Rome) was an Italian journalist, politician and sports administrator.

Journalism After studying law and letters at the University of Pisa Ferretti became a journalist, interrupting his career for army service in the First World War. Following the war he worked for the Italian administration in the newly added territory of Trentino.

Fascism Ferretti was an early member of the National Fascist Party and was in the Lamarmora column during the March on Rome. To this end he established a propaganda section of the press office. Ferretti's reforms even covered the reporting of crime, financial incompetence or the failure of businesses and banks, all of which were severely restricted due to fears that they might reflect badly on the government, which consistently claimed Italy was only progressing in both economic and social terms. Ferretti was succeeded as press office chief by Gaetano Polverelli in December 1931. He was particularly influential in the growth of rugby union in Italy, lauding the game in the pages of the Corriere della Sera for its "extreme virile physical effort". The Italy national rugby union team made its debut in 1929, during the country's fascist period. Recognising the importance of sport to national identity, as well as the popular status of those skilled at sport, he sought to portray Mussolini himself as "Italy's first and most complete sportsman" and arranged for Il Duce to be regularly photographed horse-riding, skiing, hunting, motor racing, swimming or even just in attendance at sports events.

Ferretti continued to write for the Corriere della Sera during the Republic of Salò. He remained close to Mussolini until the end, fleeing with him to Como in 1945.

Post-war politics Ferretti was an early member of the Italian Social Movement and served the party as a member of the Italian Senate for Lazio. From 1959 to 1969 he was also a member of the European Parliament.

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