Official sources at the ERC have confirmed receiving a report on July 2 from the elected members of RTP-TV’s Editorial Board regarding the lack of prior consultation in the dismissal of the information director.
In response, the ERC notified the Board of Directors of RTP – Rádio e Televisão de Portugal, S.A., to provide their statement on the matter, aligning with their duties and responsibilities.
On June 25, RTP stated that no legal violation had occurred, referencing legal statutes, after the public television’s Editorial Board criticized not being consulted about the dismissal of the information department.
An RTP official highlighted that there was no illegality involved. The Television Law No. 27/2007, dated July 30, mandates the RTP Board of Directors to seek a non-binding opinion from the Editorial Board.
This opinion pertains to the dismissal of the television’s information direction and the appointment of the new director, which will be sought following the confirmation of an opinion from the competent regulatory entity, ERC.
A statement from the Editorial Board, dated June 25 after an extraordinary meeting, noted that the dismissal decision was conveyed without prior consultation, violating the legal principle that mandates their involvement in decisions impacting editorial direction and journalistic work organization.
The RTP Editorial Board members express that they were not included in designing the new editorial structure and had no prior access to the proposed project, claiming that this lack of dialogue undermines trust between the newsroom and management.
They question the editorial vision the Board aims to implement, the reason for the DI’s loss of confidence in the new project, and demand a detailed presentation of the editorial restructuring project along with guarantees of effective involvement in all future decisions affecting the editorial line and newsroom operations.
On June 25, both the Journalists’ Union (SJ) and the Telecommunications and Audiovisual Communication Workers’ Union (STT) accused RTP management of breaching legal obligations by changing the information director without consulting the Editorial Board.
Vítor Gonçalves, aged 56, has been appointed as the new RTP information director, succeeding António José Teixeira.
Gonçalves has been with RTP for 33 years, previously serving as deputy director and as Washington correspondent for the public broadcaster. He currently hosts the “Grande Entrevista” program on Wednesdays on RTP3.
The new director of information for linear television and digital, also overseeing RTP3, awaits the ERC’s binding opinion.
The former information director, António José Teixeira, held the position for over five years, assuming office on January 7, 2020.
