Press Freedom: journalists talk about the importance of the date; ‘fundamental for the maintenance of democracy’

Priscilla Peixoto – Cenarium Magazine

MANAUS – Established by the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN), May 3rd is the date when the “World Press Freedom Day” is celebrated. For almost 30 years, the day marks the constant search for freedom of press professionals who cherish the right to investigate, publish and inform society in a free, impartial, independent and responsible way. CENARIUM has gathered considerations from professionals in the area about how significant the date is for the class and for the population that, through the press, has one of the main instruments for daily information.

Acting as a journalist for ten years, the professional Cynthia Blink, known mainly for her dedication to political agendas in the state of Amazonas, highlights that freedom of the press is fundamental for the maintenance of democracy. In times of constant attacks to the professionals of the area, she considers that there is no way to put into practice the fundamental points of the profession without the assured freedom to do so and without the support of the society.

“In such dark times for journalism, especially for journalists – so many times targets of aggressions in press conferences and interviews – remembering that freedom of the press exists is fundamental for the maintenance of democracy. It is up to society to demand freedom of the press and it is up to journalists to make use of this right/duty in the construction of a better society,” considers the professional.

“It lights paths and brings information”

With vast experience in TV stations, newspapers, and communication consultancies, with 37 years of experience, journalist Sérgio Bartholo also celebrates the date. Like Cyntia Blink, the professional is attentive to the relationship between democracy and free press, having as a commitment the public interest.

“The good press is for democracy like the poronga on the head of the rubber tapper in the early morning hours in the middle of the forest: it lights the way. It brings important information about the performance of the powers that be in the use of public resources to help citizens make their decisions. For this reason, it must have the freedom to inform. Otherwise, the tendency is to have a society in the dark, stumbling, without knowing the best direction,” the journalist highlights.

“Respect for journalistic activity”

For Rosiene Carvalho, a journalist focused mainly on economic and political issues, the date serves to evaluate measures and attitudes that may favor or weaken the unrestricted access to public information and the respect for journalistic activity.

In Rosiene’s analysis, who has been working as a journalist since 2005, in order to actually put freedom of the press into practice, it is indispensable to investigate the facts, to give the population a voice and a turn, and to go beyond the official publications of the institutions. With technical and intellectual capacity, she stresses that press professionals need to have, at least, the right to question the facts without fear and reprisals.

“Beyond the date, we need – journalists, society, institutions, authorities – to have a greater appreciation for this principle of democracy. There is no democracy without freedom of the press and expression. And there is no freedom of the press with journalists barred or afraid to ask because they fear losing their jobs. There is no freedom of the press in practice if only official versions of ‘releases’ are massified, without articles that involve research involving listening to the population and with the participation of the intellectual and technical capital of journalists,” says Roseane, who adds.

“In the general context, we live in a moment of attempted setbacks and democratic ruptures. The journalist who cannot exercise his profession without the parameter of freedom of the press needs to be fully aware of what is happening in his time and the price we paid in the period when censorship was the legal rule. Let the date serve for evaluation and reflection on journalistic activity,” she points out.

“Fighting violence and ensuring autonomy”

For the president of the Union of Professional Journalists in the State of Amazonas (SJP/AM) and member of the National Federation of Journalists (Fenaj), Wilson Reis, although celebrating the date is important, it is necessary to pay attention to the successive episodes of violence and actions that directly damage the freedom of the press.

To have an idea, in the year 2021 alone, Fenaj pointed out 140 occurrences of censorship, most of them (138) committed by managers of Empresa Brasil de Comunicação (EBC), a federal public company. The data are present in the report entitled “Violence against journalists and press freedom in Brazil | Report 2021”.

“The growing escalation of violence practiced in the last three years against journalists in their professional practice in Brazil directly attacks the Freedom of the Press,” says the president of the union.

“Therefore, it becomes necessary the intransigent and collective defense by the entities and related companies so that journalists can work and exercise their profession with autonomy. Simultaneously, we must seek to assure to the population its access to information and the right to be well informed”, analyses Wilson Reis.

Other data

According to the document produced by Fenaj, the cases of “censorship” exceeded those of “discrediting” the press. Censorship represented 32.56% of the total number of cases, while discrediting the press represented 30.46% (131 occurrences in total).

The survey also points out an increase in censorship cases (140 episodes in 2021, against 85, in 2020). It is worth noting that the survey is conducted annually based on data collected by the federation itself and by the Journalists Unions in the country.

Bolsonaro and attacks

The report also concludes that President Jair Bolsonaro remains the main aggressor of journalists. “The continuity of violations to press freedom in Brazil is clearly associated with the rise of Jair Bolsonaro to the Presidency of the Republic,” the report quotes.

“President Jair Bolsonaro, since assuming the Presidency of the Republic on January 1, 2019, has become the main perpetrator of attacks on media outlets and journalists. In 2021, repeating the same position occupied in the previous two years, he was directly responsible for 147 occurrences (34.19% of the total), most of them, attempts to discredit the press (129), but also for 18 cases of direct assaults on journalists,” the text points out.

Abraji and Unesco for press freedom

In order to draw attention to the value of a free and independent press, the Brazilian Association of Investigative Journalism (Abraji) together with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) have instituted a movement to promote visibility to the World Press Freedom Day, celebrated this Tuesday, March 3.

With the theme “Journalism under digital siege: the digital age and the impact on freedom of expression, journalists’ safety, access to information, and privacy”, the campaign aims to engage traditional/native digital media outlets, even universities and other institutions in formulating their own strategies to discuss the topic and engage society on the issue at hand. Those interested in the mobilization and in having access to the material can contact [email protected].

Constitution and freedom of the press

The 1988 Constitution, more specifically the (arts. 5, clause IV and 220) of the Media expressly states: “no law shall contain any provision that may hinder full freedom of journalistic information in any media outlet, subject to the provisions of art. 5, clauses IV, V, XIII, and XIV” (art. 220, § 1).

Furthermore, the Constitution forbids censorship, as emphasized by art. 5th, clause IX; “the expression of intellectual, artistic, scientific, and communication activities is free, regardless of censorship or license”; “any censorship of a political, ideological, and artistic nature is forbidden” (art. 220, § 2º).