Global Media journalists note attacks, interference and terrorism by the Executive Commission

Journalists from several Global Media publications noted this Thursday in Lisbon attacks, interference and cases of “terrorism” by the group’s Executive Committee and asked government officials to take care of the sector.

The professionals spoke at the V Congress of Journalists in a discussion moderated by Filipe Santa Barbara (TSF) on vulnerable media.

“I have never encountered a situation in which the threat came from within,” said Alexandre Panda of the Jornal de Notícias (JN), recalling that until September last year people heard talk in the corridors that the newspaper was “on the verge of closure.” ” bought by a faceless fund,” referring to the World Opportunity Fund (WOF).

However, “as hope is the last to die”, journalists waited “to see what happens next” until they received a statement in which the Global Media Executive Committee said it wanted to create the conditions for a new strategic project “to ensure full respect” for the historical identity of brands.

“The goal was great. Within days, the instability, uncertainty and interference that we all know began. This is terrorism. This is daily,” he noted.

For his part, Mario Fernando, a TSF journalist, said it was the “biggest attack on the media” in recent years and regretted that the Social Communications Regulatory Authority (ERC) had taken so long to review the case.

“Why would a more or less obscure fund want something that it can’t make money from?” he asked, recalling that TSF journalists “are not going to deviate from their mission.”

For the journalist, what happens is the completion of an editorial project, demonstrating that it will be the same as a football team taking the field with six of its 11 players, which is impossible since they need at least seven. .

“The executive committee wants TSF to stay out of the game,” he accused.

Frederico Bardon of the newspaper O Jogo described publishing as “very difficult”, speaking of “huge overload”.

The brand’s journalists have to cover 32 pages a day, which wouldn’t be possible without the staff, he said.

“We find it very difficult to understand how a collective dismissal can be carried out without asking a single journalist if they want to change their medium. It seems strange to us that journalists are hired by other publications and that there is no money for it. pay journalists at home,” he complained.

Representing Dinheiro Vivo workers, Luis Reis Ribeiro said it was impossible to keep up with the “changing economy” with only 10 journalists working in the field.

“There seems to be interest in artificial intelligence, but it will be without the natural intelligence that we have,” he said.

Luis Reis Ribeiro concluded his speech by emphasizing that he does not work “for a shareholder or a company,” but for readers, listeners and viewers.

João Pedro Henriques of the Diário de Notícias (DN) challenged the political class, remembering that the “ball” is also on this side.

“Is journalism an important asset or not? Without journalism, democracy dies in darkness. Could the political class be so kind as to consider a new patronage law? […] This is neither [partido] let us dare to weaponize our situation in a campaign. Maintain your composure. This is the struggle of our entire lives. Respect,” he emphasized.

According to two statements published this Thursday, the plenary meetings of the workers of Jornal de Notícias and the sports company O Jogo decided to activate the suspension of labor contracts due to non-payment of wages.

The World Opportunity Fund (WOF), which controls Global Media, said it was not prepared to transfer money to pay outstanding wages until a decision was made by the social communications regulator ERC and the “intended precautionary procedure” had been carried out, it said. this Thursday the President This is stated in a statement by the Global Media Group (GMG).

“The World Opportunity Fund (WOF) informed me this Thursday of its inability to make any transfer without the Social Communications Regulatory Council (ERC) completing the autonomous administrative process to invoke Section 14 of the Transparency Act. , and which could ultimately result in WOF being stripped of its voting rights,” GMG’s executive president (CEO) said in a statement.

In addition, José Paulo Fafe adds, the fund also informed him of its “inability to carry out any transfer until the alleged preventive arrest procedure publicly announced by the businessman Marco Galinha is lifted.”

However, the Social Communications Regulator (ERC) later said that the issue of salary payments at Global Media Group (GMG) had “absolutely nothing to do” with the regulator.

Speaking to Lusa, ERC Regulatory Council President Helena Souza said that “the ERC is developing two procedures”, one dealing with a “transparency regime and the other with a set of investigations” and that “it will continue to do your job.” according to the deadlines that are in process.”

In an internal statement on December 6, the Global Media group’s executive committee announced that it would urgently negotiate redundancies with 150 to 200 workers and embark on a restructuring it said was necessary to avoid the company’s “more than foreseeable bankruptcy.” group”.

The fifth Congress of Journalists, to be held seven years after the last one, will examine topics such as ethics, working conditions, teaching, memory and media funding.

The event, which ends on Sunday, is supported by the Union of Journalists (SJ), Casa da Imprensa and Clube dos Jornalistas.