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On Tuesday, the President of the Republic asked if the state had no duty to intervene in the face of the media crisis. For Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, there is an "emergency situation" which is already a problem of democracy and regime.
Felisbela Lopes, a media researcher at the University of Minho, said the political class could help the media, for example through taxes and education.
What reading does the challenge launched by Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa?
I agree with this challenge of the Presidency of the Republic. It's a challenge that's been imposed for quite some time. In 2015, I wrote a book titled Journalist, profession threatened. This was done with 100 journalists of very different profile. I then asked them what were the most important constraints and 42% responded that it was economic constraints.
And in what way have they been translated?
With wages increasingly precarious and disparate; lack of human resources; do more with less; in writings increasingly decapitated; lack of technological resources; do two or three pieces a day and it is unthinkable to do a job for two or three days. The reporter does not have the time, for example, to confront various sources. This very seriously reflects the quality of journalism, the vitality of democracy and the dynamism of the public space through which we all circulate.
How to solve the problem?
If this is the issue, it is obvious that the political class must examine the question carefully. You can not participate in this debate, which must be done urgently. We have a huge print crisis, a disruptive reuse of digital content and television news that is turning into entertainment for the public.
But what are the dangers of calling the political class to solve the problem?
A manipulation of journalists by the political class. Which means that for this to happen, the political class can not lead this debate alone. These must be led by those who structure the field of journalism, and this is a larger group than journalists. Business groups that give projects strength must also be heard. In the same way as the academy, regulatory and associative entities. Listening to the Union of Journalists, the regulator of social communication, some interlocutors should participate in this debate. With the groups that ensure this pluralism, the danger of manipulation is already clear. And also disappear when the action is a widespread action for the field of journalism. Not just for newspapers, radio, television or digital projects in particular. You must include them all in the same way.
But what concrete measures could help solve the crisis?
You had to think seriously about the tracks. For example, do schools buy newspapers? What about public institutions? They could sign the newspapers or access the online. The regulation of free digital content should also raise concerns. And politically assume tax benefits in the broad sense. Press companies are in deep crisis. We should look at the area of taxation, companies do not need crumbs, but deep tax reform. Finally, we need to debate the importance of information. I do not see young people value journalistic news.
Again, should the school play a role?
I should talk about the importance of journalistic information. We are not, for example, really imported with the false news. And the warning of this president will not result in anything if there are no concrete actions. This debate is urgent. Politicians must start, but they can not do it alone. He must be assisted and addressed to all organs. To all There is also a group that also deserves special attention: media regional authorities. Faced with the difficulties they face, some turn projects into projects for local authorities, which is dangerous, turns newspapers into a kind of newsletters municipalities and gives citizens the idea that journalism is propaganda. Conclusion: Marcelo has pointed us a flag, it is now necessary to shake him in a muscular way.
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