Andrea Petrella appointed head of press office at Italian Ministry of Culture

Andrea Petrella, a 46-year-old journalist, has been appointed as the new head of the press and communication office at the Italian Ministry of Culture, replacing Mattia Morandi. Petrella shares a background with the new Minister of Culture, Gennaro Sangiuliano, both being journalists from the Naples area. Marina Nalesso, a Rai journalist known for wearing a large crucifix on Tg1, will serve as the minister's spokesperson. Petrella holds a law degree from the University of Naples Federico II. He began his career in Campania newspapers and TV, worked as a publicist, joined Il Mattino in 2001, and in 2005 entered the press office of the Municipality of Acerra, also handling its web communication. He became a professional journalist in 2009, then worked at the Chamber of Deputies with parliamentary groups and the VI Finance Commission until March 2018. He later moved to the National Council for Economy and Labour, managing press and media relations during the post-2016 referendum period that called for its abolition. In March 2019, he joined the Committee for Institutional Communication of the Court of Auditors, collaborating with its press office. He was a contract professor of Journalism for Press Offices at the University of Salerno for the 2019/2020 academic year and teaches mandatory training courses for journalists. His experience in the cultural sector is yet to be built.