Advances in the defense of professional journalism; Celebrating National Press Freedom Day
Professional journalism is facing several challenges, such as political polarization and the spread of fake news. In Brazil, organizations dedicated to the fight against violence, censorship and pressure highlight various forms of aggression directed at these professionals.
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On the 7th of June, the National Press Freedom Day in Brazil. The date is important to highlight the importance of freedom of expression and professional journalism for democracy and society.
Press professional fight
In the last few years, professional journalism has faced a number of challenges, such as political polarization and the spread of fake news. Brazilian organizations that fight against violence, censorship and pressure in several ways highlight that this week is also marked by two events. Firstly, it is 21 years since the murder of Tim Lopes on June 2, 2002. Furthermore, this year marks the first anniversary of the deaths of the British journalist Dom Phillips and the indigenous activist Bruno Pereira, which took place on June 5, 2022.
The teacher Katia Brembatti, President of the Brazilian Association of Investigative Journalism (Abraji), expresses regret at the continuation of violent treatment, even in progressive governments. She emphasized that the violence against journalists is the result of a process built and encouraged over many years, and cannot be transformed from one moment to the next. A recent example occurred on May 31, when the journalist Delis Ortiz, from TV Globo, was attacked by a security guard at the Itamaraty Palace during coverage of the Summit of Presidents of South American Countries.
The professor also states that hostile behavior towards journalists and cameramen is not limited to isolated individuals, but encompasses the entire press corps. According to her, the violence is not personally directed at a specific person or a particular report, but against the practice of journalism as a whole. It is an attack on the press in its entirety, highlights the professional.
New form of violence
In 2019, the National Federation of Journalists (FENAJ), responsible for compiling cases of violence against the press in Brazil, recorded the identification of a new form of restriction. Samira de Castro, president of FENAJ, explained that this new category was introduced during the previous government, led by Jair Bolsonaro. "What we've observed recently is that Bolsonaro has created this new way of discrediting the press."
According to Abraji's president, most attacks are politically motivated, seeking to undermine public confidence in the traditional press and redirecting it to strategic sources with personal interests. "These could be political marketing strategies to demoralize the press," explains one journalist about one of the ways in which the media are discredited.
Challenges
In recent years, there has also been enhanced progress in protection of professional journalism and the preservation of freedom of the press. An example of this progress was the creation of the Violence Observatory against Journalists and Social Communicators, on February 17 of this year, at the initiative of the Ministry of Justice. This creation occurred in response to acts of aggression suffered by professionals of the press during the terrorist attacks carried out by Bolsonarist radicals on January 8, in the Brazilian capital, Brasília.
The ordinance that creates the observatory was published in the Official Diary of the Union. According to the document, the purpose of this body will be to monitor occurrences involving violent conduct against journalists and social communicators, in addition to providing support in dealing with these cases and proposing public policies. Another important advance was the approval of the Access to Information Law, in 2011, which allows any citizen to request public information from government agencies. This is fundamental for the transparency and social control of the State's actions.
Journalist's role
Society has increasingly shown support for professional journalism and freedom of the press. In 2020, for example, in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Brazilian media had a significant increase in audience, with many people seeking serious and reliable information about the disease.
Future
The organizations indicate that there are reasons to have more positive perspectives, although there is no guarantee of a complete containment of violence. "I maintain an optimism based on will and a pessimism based on reason. I believe that journalism will continue to be a social necessity", stated Samira de Castro. Katia Brembati highlights the social importance of this profession by exposing social injustices and promoting justice. "People need to understand how journalism is part of everyone's lives."
It is important to remember that the defense of professional journalism and freedom of the press is still a constant challenge. It is necessary to be aware of possible threats and fight for the guarantees of a free and independent press. On this National Press Freedom Day, let us celebrate the advances made and continue to work together to defend professional journalism and democracy.
