This alert comes a week after the management of Vasp – Distribution and Logistics announced it is assessing the need to make adjustments in the daily newspaper distribution in the districts of Beja, Évora, Portalegre, Castelo Branco, Guarda, Viseu, Vila Real, and Bragança.
In an article published today, directors of all daily general information newspapers, weekly publications, the only daily printed newspaper in the economic field, newsmagazines, general and thematic information magazines, and all dailies issue an alert to civil society and political leaders, both at the central state level and in local authorities.
The signatories warn that the increasing deterioration of the printing industry and the progressive strangulation of distribution chains are two factors that put Portugal at serious risk of soon losing access to the written press across vast areas of its territory.
“For many of our publications, the main way to ensure regular contact with the public is by printing in Spanish companies. This comes with all the inherent difficulties and constraints, besides the negative impact on the national economy,” the text states.
The signatories highlight the crisis announced by VASP, stating that “the absence of newspapers and magazines in significant areas of the national territory will cut off a substantial part of the population from professionally validated news by our newsrooms,” the text reads.
In the signatories’ view, the situation “will also inevitably lead to a decline in the sharing of the main news flows, key news, and collective interests across the country, in short, the major concerns and common causes.”
They also emphasize that for many Portuguese, reading the newspaper or magazine is the only contact with the written Portuguese language.
They warn that the end of the written press would further increase the risk of misinformation and ‘fake news’ on social networks.
“Finally, we must alert to the danger this break represents for the media, an economic activity that employs thousands of people in Portugal, qualified professionals who contribute to the collective national wealth, as well as the health and vitality of democracy,” they stress.
The signatories claim that journalists, technicians, photojournalists, graphic designers, producers, and many other professionals will have their jobs at risk due to this break in the distribution chain.
“In defense of journalism, but above all democracy and freedom, we cannot be silent accomplices to a risk that can and should be avoided. It’s time to unite efforts and ensure that the written press continues to reach all Portuguese people throughout the territory, as a pillar of a healthy, informed, and vibrant democracy,” they affirm.
The article is signed by the directors of Diário de Notícias, Jornal de Notícias, Noticias Ilimitadas, Volta ao Mundo, A Bola, Visão, Expresso, Público, Nascer do Sol, Negócios, Record, O Jogo, Correio da Manhã, Sábado, and Sábado Viajante.
On Tuesday, the National Association of Portuguese Municipalities (ANMP) urged the government to guarantee the means and mechanisms to ensure media distribution across the entire national territory after VASP admitted to halting it in eight districts.
In a statement sent to the Lusa news agency, ANMP considers that such “will jeopardize access to information, as there will be areas of the country that will be excluded from the media distribution routes, which until now have been ensured across the entire territory.”
