Gabanelli was born in 1952 in Milan and grew up in a family where she developed a flair for writing and journalism. After studying literature in high school, she joined a journalism school before landing her first job as a journalist with the daily newspaper La Repubblica.
Over the years, Gabanelli has worked for various print and broadcast media outlets, including Il Sole 24 Ore, L’Espresso, and Rai TV. However, it was her work with the program “Report” that shot her to fame and cemented her position as a leading investigative journalist in Italy.
“Report” is an investigative journalism program that was started by Gabanelli along with a group of her colleagues in 1997. The program has become famous for its in-depth investigative reports on social, political, and economic issues affecting the Italian society. The program has won numerous awards and accolades, including the coveted David di Donatello award in 2012, which is the Italian equivalent of the Oscars, for its investigative report on the threats faced by judges in Italy.
Gabanelli’s work with “Report” has been nothing short of extraordinary. Her investigative reports have uncovered numerous cases of corruption, fraud, and abuse of power by public officials, politicians, and businesspeople in Italy. Some of her most famous reports include “The Ballad of Berlusconi,” which exposed the corruption allegations surrounding the former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, and “The Friends of Berlusconi,” which looked into the cronyism allegations surrounding the appointment of individuals in key positions of power by the former PM.
Gabanelli’s work has not gone unnoticed, and she has received numerous awards and accolades in recognition of her contribution to the field of journalism. In 2007, she was awarded the prestigious “Ischia International Journalism Prize,” which is awarded to journalists who have distinguished themselves in the field of investigative journalism. In 2009, she was awarded the “Enzo Baldoni Prize,” which is awarded to journalists who have shown courage, determination, and ethical values in their work.
In her personal life, Gabanelli is known to be a private person who keeps away from the limelight. She is married to Michele Brambilla, a former journalist and current communications manager of the Milan Airport. Together they have two children.
In recent years, Gabanelli has turned her attention to environmental issues and has produced a series of investigative reports on the impact of human activities on the environment. In 2020, she produced a report on the pollution of the River Po, which highlighted how the industrial activities along the River were having a significant impact on the water quality and wildlife in the region.
In conclusion, Milena Gabanelli is a living legend in the world of investigative journalism. Her work has been instrumental in bringing to light many of the social, political, and economic issues plaguing Italian society. Her dedication to journalism and her unwavering commitment to ethical values have earned her the respect and admiration of millions of people in Italy and beyond. Gabanelli’s contributions to journalism will continue to be felt for generations to come, and it is a testament to her work that she remains an inspiration to many young journalists who aspire to follow in her footsteps.