--- title: "Barbara Spinelli, journalist and former MEP, dies aged 80" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/barbara-spinelli-journalist-and-former-mep-dies-aged-80" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/barbara-spinelli-journalist-and-former-mep-dies-aged-80" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/barbara-spinelli-journalist-and-former-mep-dies-aged-80.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/barbara-spinelli-journalist-and-former-mep-dies-aged-80" category: "Politics" published: "2026-10-07T12:45:54.082Z" source_reported: "2026-10-07T12:08:45.294Z" updated: "2026-10-07T12:45:54.082Z" trust_score: 42 critic_score: 61 hype_score: 20 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-10-07T12:30:26.550213+00:00" --- # Barbara Spinelli, journalist and former MEP, dies aged 80 *Spinelli, daughter of EU founder Altiero Spinelli, was also a co-founder of La Repubblica newspaper.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. Central claims attributed to named bodies, with two independent outlets and one named source. - Craft 61 of 100, higher is better. Reporting includes context, quotes from affected parties, and clear separation of fact from comment. - Hype 20 of 100, lower is better. Language is measured and proportionate, with no sensationalism or manufactured urgency. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Journalist and former MEP Barbara Spinelli died at 80. - She was the daughter of Altiero Spinelli, a founder of the European Union. - Spinelli was one of the founding journalists of the daily newspaper La Repubblica. - Her funeral will be held privately. Barbara Spinelli, a journalist and former Member of the European Parliament, has died at the age of 80. She passed away in Rome. Spinelli was the daughter of Altiero Spinelli, a political theorist considered one of the founding fathers of the European Union, and Ursula Hirschmann, an anti-fascist activist. Spinelli was among the journalists who founded the daily newspaper La Repubblica in the 1970s. She served as a Member of the European Parliament from 2014 to 2019. Her funeral will be a private ceremony. ## Coverage disagreements While most reports state Barbara Spinelli died at the age of 80, HuffPost It notes that her last article, published on March 10, was dedicated to the war between the United States and Iran. Il Sole 24 Ore and Il Messaggero state she died in Rome, while ANSA reports European Parliament sources as the origin of the information. HuffPost It also mentions she collaborated with Il Fatto Quotidiano for ten years and thanked Professor Cortesi, his staff, and the staff of Villa del Rosario clinic for their care. La Repubblica states she was one of the founders of the newspaper, while ANSA says she was among the founders of the daily newspaper La Repubblica in the 1970s. ## What the coverage left out None of the left, centre, or right-rated reports mention the specific date of Barbara Spinelli's birth. The right-rated report does not mention her funeral will be held privately, a detail included in the left-rated HuffPost It report. ## Who covered it Shares of the 8 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 63% (5) - Centre: 24% (2) - Right: 13% (1) 11 of 19 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-10-07T12:30:26.550213+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 1 time; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-10-07T13:00:20.117Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The left-rated reports highlighted Barbara Spinelli's identity as a journalist and politician. HuffPost It noted her role as a collaborator with Il Fatto Quotidiano and mentioned her last article was about the US-Iran war. It also detailed her political career, including her election to the European Parliament with 'L'Altra Europa con Tsipras' and her subsequent departure from the group. La Stampa mentioned her decades of reporting and analysis on European and international politics. La Repubblica and Il Fatto Quotidiano both emphasised her founding role at the newspaper and her parentage, with Il Fatto Quotidiano also detailing her mother Ursula Hirschmann's background. ### Centre - The centre-rated reports focused on Barbara Spinelli's death, her age, and her familial connection to a founder of the European Union. ANSA identified her as a journalist and left-wing politician, noting her time as an MEP and her role in founding La Repubblica. Il Messaggero also described her as a journalist, essayist, and former MEP, and mentioned her father's role in writing the Ventotene Manifesto. ### Right - The single right-rated report from Il Sole 24 Ore identified Barbara Spinelli as a journalist, essayist, and former Italian MEP who died at the age of 80. It stated she was born in Rome in 1946 and was the daughter of Altiero Spinelli. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - high: 6 - unknown: 12 - veryHigh: 1 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Askanews](https://askanews.it/2026/10/07/ue-e-morta-barbara-spinelli-giornalista-ed-ex-parlamentare-europea) — EU, Barbara Spinelli, Journalist and Former European Member of Parliament Died - [L'Unione Sarda.it](https://unionesarda.it/news/italia/la-politica-piange-lex-europarlamentare-barbara-spinelli-qh1np10w) — Politics Cries L'ex Europarlamentare Barbara Spinelli - [Il Sole 24 Ore](https://ilsole24ore.com/art/e-morta-barbara-spinelli-giornalista-ed-ex-europarlamentare-aveva-80-anni-AJRPe1bB) — Barbara Spinelli Died: the Journalist and Former MEP Was 80 Years Old - [Agenzia giornalistica Opinione](https://agenziagiornalisticaopinione.it/opinionmix/avs-alleanza-verdi-sinistra-barbara-spinelli-bonelli-perdiamo-una-voce-libera-e-rigorosa-delleuropa) — AVS - ALLEANTA VERDE SINISTRA: "BARBARA SPINELLI, BONELLI: FORGIVE A FREE AND RIGOROUS VOICE OF EUROPE" - Journalist's Agency Opinion. News From Italy - World / Trentino Alto Adige - [Agi.it](https://agi.it/cronaca/news/2026-10-07/addio-barbara-spinelli-39419418) — Farewell to Barbara Spinelli, Journalist, Essayist Former MEP - [lanotiziagiornale.it](https://lanotiziagiornale.it/barbara-spinelli-morta-80-anni) — Barbara Spinelli Died at the Age of 80: Farewell to the Journalist and Former MEP - [corrieredellacalabria.it](https://corrieredellacalabria.it/2026/10/07/e-morta-lex-europarlamentare-barbara-spinelli-aveva-80-anni) — Former MEP Barbara Spinelli Died, 80 Years Old - [Lapresse](https://lapresse.it/cronaca/2026/10/07/e-morta-barbara-spinelli-la-giornalista-ed-ex-europarlamentare-aveva-80-anni) — Barbara Spinelli Died: the Journalist and Former MEP Was 80 Years Old - [Rec News | Lontani dal mainstream](https://recnews.it/2026/10/07/addio-a-barbara-spinelli-morta-a-80-anni-la-giornalista-ed-ex-europarlamentare) — Farewell to Barbara Spinelli, 80-Year-Old Journalist and Former MEP - [notizie.it](https://notizie.it/addio-a-barbara-spinelli-morta-a-80-anni-la-giornalista-ed-ex-europarlamentare) — Farewell to Barbara Spinelli, 80-Year-Old Journalist and Former MEP - [canaledieci.it](https://canaledieci.it/2026/10/07/addio-a-barbara-spinelli-morta-a-80-anni-la-giornalista-ed-ex-europarlamentare) — Farewell to Barbara Spinelli, 80-Year-Old Journalist and Former MEP - [ANSA](https://ansa.it/english/news/politics/2026/10/07/journalist-left-wing-politician-barbara-spinelli-has-died_0bc66908-e2be-4e5a-a611-452d86269621.html) — Journalist, Left-Wing Politician Barbara Spinelli Has Died - [La Stampa](https://lastampa.it/politica/2026/10/07/news/barbara_spinelli_morta_giornalista_europarlamentare-15759481) — Barbara Spinelli, Journalist and Former MEP, Died: She Was 80 Years Old - [Quotidiano Nazionale](https://quotidiano.net/cronaca/barbara-spinelli-morta-c7zhq0vo) — Barbara Spinelli Died, Farewell to the Sister of Europe. She Was the Daughter of Altiero, the Founding Father of the Union. - [Il Messaggero](https://ilmessaggero.it/persone/barbara_spinelli_morta_giornalista_chi_era-9809689.html) — Barbara Spinelli Died, the Journalist and Former MEP Was 80 Years Old - [La Repubblica](https://repubblica.it/cultura/2026/10/07/news/barbara_spinelli_morta_giornalista_ed_europarlamentare-425631687) — Barbara Spinelli, Journalist and MEP, Died - [HuffPost It](https://huffingtonpost.it/politica/2026/10/07/news/e_morta_barbara_spinelli_giornalista_e_politica_aveva_80_anni-22864816) — Barbara Spinelli, Journalist and Politician, Died: She Was 80 Years Old - [Il Post](https://ilpost.it/2026/10/07/barbara-spinelli-giornalista-morta) — The Journalist and Politician Barbara Spinelli Died: She Was 80 Years Old - [Il Fatto Quotidiano](https://ilfattoquotidiano.it/2026/10/07/barbara-spinelli-morte-giornalista-notizie/8530222) — Died Barbara Spinelli, Journalist and MEP: 80 Years Old ## Questions **How old was Barbara Spinelli when she died?** Barbara Spinelli died at the age of 80. The reports confirm her age at the time of her death. **Who were Barbara Spinelli's parents?** Barbara Spinelli was the daughter of Altiero Spinelli, a founder of the European Union, and Ursula Hirschmann, an anti-fascist activist. **What was Barbara Spinelli's role in La Repubblica?** Barbara Spinelli was among the founders of the daily newspaper La Repubblica. Some reports specify she was among the founders in the 1970s. **When did Barbara Spinelli serve as an MEP?** Barbara Spinelli served as a Member of the European Parliament from 2014 to 2019. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/barbara-spinelli-journalist-and-former-mep-dies-aged-80. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Barbara Spinelli, journalist and former MEP, dies aged 80", https://mediabias.news/politics/barbara-spinelli-journalist-and-former-mep-dies-aged-80