The SJ will file a formal complaint with the Porto Metropolitan Area (AMP) and the Regulatory Entity for Communication (ERC), stating that the treatment received by journalists constitutes a disregard for the journalists themselves, the profession, and the Portuguese public who rely on the vital role of journalism in a democratic, balanced, and fair society, according to a statement released today.
On Monday morning, several journalists were prevented from entering the first meeting of the Porto Metropolitan Council, which was held to elect the new president and the two vice-presidents of that deliberative body of the AMP, contrary to the law.
The Legal Framework of Local Authorities, in paragraph 3 of Article 70, states that “the meetings of the metropolitan council are public,” as well as the regulations of the Porto Municipal Council, which in paragraph 2 of Article 2 says that “the meetings are public.”
“Journalists are the first to advocate for accurate, transparent, and clear information. Nothing that happened on Monday morning at the AMP headquarters in Porto was accurate, transparent, or clear,” accused the union.
As a result, the journalists left the premises and filed a complaint with the SJ, an action that was supported by the union, which considered that “by barring journalists’ access to a public meeting, the Porto Metropolitan Council violated the right of access to information sources and obstructed the freedom to inform and be informed, contrary to the Constitution, the Press Law, and the Journalist Statute.”
“This is, unfortunately, just another example of the growing disrespect for journalists’ work, in a context where threats, pressures, and insinuations are increasing,” lamented the SJ.
