The Osservatorio di Pavia is an institute of research specialised in media analysis at theoretical and empirical level. The institute is an independent non-profit organisation. Its main objective is the safeguard of social, cultural and political pluralism in the field of mass media through the elaboration of methodologies of research and analysis applied to media studies. It employs 30 researchers and a network of scholars in media studies.

The Osservatorio di Pavia was founded in 1994 by C.A.R.E.S. (Cooperative for Social and Economical Analysis and Research) together with a group of professors of Social Sciences of the University of Pavia. Since then, it has become an internationally recognised institute for the analysis and research on mass communication.

The Osservatorio di Pavia works in collaboration with the University of Pavia; in partnership they developed a quantitative methodology for the observation and the analysis of political communication in the mass media.

This methodological effort has led to a long-term co-operation with Rai - the Italian public service broadcasting - for which the Osservatorio di Pavia has been carrying out media monitoring activities since 1994. The data produced by the Osservatorio di Pavia are utilised by the Parliamentary Commission on RAI.