The book's title refers to the classic joke in which a father tells his son that anything is better than being a journalist, including being a piano player in the brothel.

The Piano Player in the Brothel is a reflection on the practice of journalism and the responsibility it entails in the interpretation of an ever-changing and increasingly complex world. The author's thoughts are interspersed with data and anecdotes on the history of journalism and its role as a great instrument of cultural diffusion, a warrantor of freedom of speech, and, hence, a protector of democracy. From its origins, journalism has struggled with political power -always interested in turning information into simple propaganda- and for that purpose it has developed some basic principles: truthfulness, verification, independence, public commitment and loyalty towards the citizens.