In a recent announcement, the elected members of the Editorial Council (CR) declared their resignation from their positions, citing the inescapable stance due to the Editorial Direction’s (DE) disregard for various issues raised by the journalists, whether initiated by themselves or at journalists’ requests.
The resigning members highlighted a pattern of diminishing the CR’s role as a discussion forum over multiple leaderships, asserting that resignation is unavoidable amidst numerous violations of essential values held by Público. They observed that promises by the DE to acknowledge shared concerns are overshadowed by recurring issues, which are deemed damaging to Público’s integrity and the quality of its journalism.
Contacted by Lusa, Público’s management affirmed its attentiveness to the CR’s recommendations, viewing the council as vital to the publication. They anticipate quick elections to reestablish the council’s full functionality, emphasizing that any issues or criticisms raised should be addressed internally.
The CR members highlighted their attempts to alert various DE personnel to issues such as the erosion of Público’s journalistic principles, revealing concerns about a worrying editorial trajectory shift. They pointed out discrepancies in ethical standards applied to different projects, stressing that everything published must align with its Style Book and respect the Journalist’s Deontological Code, noting that this has not always been the case with Público Brasil.
The signatories underscored inviolable principles such as combating sensationalism, respecting citizens’ privacy in matters devoid of public interest, rejecting discriminatory treatment, and correcting inaccurate information.
The communication detailed instances where recent news coverage of disappearances and child custody cases exhibited extreme deviations with ideological or sensationalist biases, criticizing these as unacceptable by Público standards. Numerous messages regarding these subjects were sent to the director and other leading figures, but concerns were inadequately addressed.
The CR indicated a pervasive frustration and indifference within the newsroom, urging the DE multiple times to foster more engagement and active discussion surrounding the journal’s strategic directions and objectives.
After completing a resignation process that saw significant journalist departures from Público, the CR noted a lack of future vision. While recognizing metrics such as traffic and subscriptions, they emphasized this should not be the paper’s sole focus.
They cautioned against the noticeable decline of some sections and the emphasis on merely functional reorganization without a clear editorial strategy or genuine journalist involvement, viewing these as troubling trends.
Nevertheless, they believe the upcoming elections could produce an active CR capable of more effectively influencing editorial discourse, which they see as urgently needed to reinforce an editorial project vital for democratic quality.
The communication is signed by elected CR members Ana Dias Cordeiro, Camilo Soldado, Inês Nadais, Joana Amaral Cardoso, João Pedro Pincha, Pedro Crisóstomo, Samuel Alemão, and Sofia Neves.
At the end of last year, Público launched a voluntary severance program, as announced by the journal’s administration, reflecting a strategic review. This program led to the exit of 20 workers, primarily journalists, raising concerns from the Journalists’ Union about the deteriorating work conditions at the newspaper.
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