Masala Alessandro (Shy)

Alessandro Masala (Cagliari, February 11, 1984) is an Italian YouTuber, blogger and commentator, known on the web by the nickname Shy.
In 2011 he created the YouTube channel Breaking Italy, of which he is still the main host; from Monday to Thursday he publishes videos analyzing and commenting on the main news of the day.

Biography:

After obtaining his scientific high school diploma in 2003, he enrolled in the university faculty of political science, but left his studies after one year to work in the hospitality sector, living briefly in Rome and Milan before returning to his hometown with the intention of dedicating himself to a “creative life”.
He began his activity on YouTube in 2006. Between 2011 and 2014 he collaborated with Il Fatto Quotidiano, creating a blog for the newspaper. In 2021 he took part in the docu-cast Infodemic: il virus siamo noi, written and hosted by Luca Perri and Barbascura X. In 2022 and 2023 he participated as a guest at the Wired Next Fest organized by Wired. Since 2023 he has collaborated as a commentator on Omnibus, broadcast on LA7.

Breaking Italy
:

On August 8, 2011, Masala launched the YouTube channel Breaking Italy, which over time has become a reference point in the Italian online information landscape. The channel was created with the aim of providing critical and in-depth analysis of daily news, while adopting a more direct and informal approach compared to traditional media. The format consists of publishing, from Monday to Thursday, a video of about 20 minutes divided into several sections ranging from national and international news to technology, where three main stories are analyzed and discussed. Every Friday the channel also hosts a recurring live stream lasting about one and a half hours, the Friday Live, where Masala comments on the week’s events together with subscribers. Over the years Breaking Italy has evolved into a more professional project, with a four-person editorial team working alongside Masala.

Spin-offs:

Breaking Italy Podcast, Breaking Italy Night and Grandi linee
In 2019 Masala launched a new format, the Breaking Italy Podcast, where he interviewed several prominent figures. After a pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the format returned with a new monthly season, renamed Breaking Italy Nightand recorded in front of a live audience. The first season of interviews took place at Teatro Franco Parenti in Milan; from the third season the show was recorded at Teatro Carcano and later at Teatro Dal Verme, also in Milan. Guests have included Roberto Saviano, Elly Schlein, Matteo Renzi, Marco Travaglio, Giuseppe Conte and Giuseppe Cruciani. Since 2022 Masala and the Breaking Italy editorial team have also produced the podcast Grandi Linee, in which they discuss the daily press review in preparation for each episode.

Television programs:

• Infodemic: il virus siamo noi, docufilm/podcast, Prime Video (2021)
• Touch: il futuro a portata di mano, RaiPlay (2023)
• Omnibus, LA7 (2023–present)
• Dimartedì, LA7 (ep. 11×16, January 21, 2025)
• Otto e mezzo, LA7 (ep. 24×95, February 4, 2025)

Podcasts:

• Breaking Italy Podcast (2019–2022)
• Breaking Italy Night (2022–2024)
• Grandi linee (2022–present)