“The announced measure, set to take effect at the beginning of 2026, will have an immediate impact on access to information across various regions, specifically in the border interior,” highlighted SJ, noting that this decision “not only affects the population’s access to information but also severely jeopardizes the stability and rights of journalists working in the sector.”
The management of Vasp confirmed today it is considering the need to adjust the daily distribution of newspapers, on the day Correio da Manhã reported that there are “eight districts at risk of being without newspapers starting in January.”
In a statement, Vasp mentioned it is “currently experiencing a particularly challenging financial situation due to the continued decline in newspaper sales and the significant increase in operational costs, which puts the sustainability of the current daily newspaper distribution coverage under strong pressure,” on the day Correio da Manhã reported that there are “eight districts at risk of being without newspapers starting in January.”
The union believes the potential “suspension of distribution will mainly affect districts in the interior and rural areas of the country where access to the written press is already limited,” adding that “the decision to halt distribution in these areas will create a situation where many readers will be left without regular access to newspapers and other journalistic publications,” which, according to SJ, worsens “an already unequal and deficient situation regarding access to information.”
The union further warned that a potential “interruption of distribution could lead to a significant reduction in the volume of work available for journalists in these areas, reducing interest in these zones and promoting the increase of areas affected by ‘news deserts’.”
The organization reminded that “many journalists, especially those covering local and regional affairs, rely on the circulation of printed newspapers to sustain their activity and ensure the continuity of their work independently.”
“The lack of distribution will directly affect the quality of journalism produced, since many newsrooms in more remote regions already operate under precarious conditions,” it warned.
For journalists, the change will represent “an increase in job insecurity, with the threat of layoffs and contract instability, as the reduction in circulation affects media company revenues, directly harming wages and working conditions,” potentially “worsening the already fragile situation of freelance journalists, who depend on regular distribution to secure contracts and ongoing work.”
SJ also reminded that “the right to information is guaranteed by the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic, specifically in Article 37, which ensures the right to freedom of expression and information.”
The Minister of the Presidency stated today that any public solution to help ensure the distribution of press throughout the national territory will always involve “competitive mechanisms” and not issuing checks to a specific company.
In a press conference following the Council of Ministers meeting, President António Leitão Amaro was questioned about the financial problems faced by Vasp, on the day the company responsible for the distribution of newspapers and magazines in the country admitted the possibility of making adjustments in eight districts — Beja, Évora, Portalegre, Castelo Branco, Guarda, Viseu, Vila Real, and Bragança.
API concerned about the possibility of Vasp ceasing newspaper distribution
