The importance of journalism

The Academy did this to reaffirm that, despite all the threats, we journalists have to comply with certain rules.

I will not reiterate all the principles now, but I recommend that you read them carefully. And, of course, that they incorporate and apply them in their professional work.

I will now refer to principle number twelve, which says: “Professional journalism rejects plagiarism, bribery, extortion and other similar practices. No journalist should accept payments, remuneration, gifts or privileges that could influence the content of their work.”

Journalism is basically critical and, naturally, has tensions with the powers that be. There is no democracy without free, vigorous and powerful journalism, which expresses its opinion freely, without interference or disqualification. May you use your constitutional rights freely.

Unfortunately, it has become common to accuse journalists of being “enveloped”, an inelegant way of saying that they receive bribes to say what they say. This is a very serious accusation, even more so when it is made from the top of institutional power, without any evidence for such an offense. This is a harmful method that must be unmasked because its central objective is to undermine and domesticate independent journalism.

I believe that these disqualifications reveal, at best, a lack of knowledge of the work of journalists and, at worst, a demonstration of intolerance and an inability to accept disagreement, in addition to demonstrating a worrying authoritarian streak.

Recent governments have already used the same fallacious arguments to somehow pressure independent journalism. The objective was, then, and is now, to subordinate ourselves to those in power. Our memory of those times remains vivid.

These repeated attempts to have a single and favorable voice for official thought are similar, even though they come from different governments. Going from the media firing squad that was the 678 television program to a new 876, which we hope will not be consolidated, would be a regrettable step backwards. Those attacks, which lasted for years, sought to “assassinate” the professional reputation. Therefore, the reappearance of this climate of disqualification has led the Academy and other organizations to warn that the same serious error is about to be committed again.

These days, journalism has its own serious problems to solve. The media is shrinking, it is undergoing rapid and continuous mutations without, to date, having found a sustainable formula. The digital world demands continuous adaptation speed to new languages ​​and new platforms. And permanent innovation so as not to miss the train of history.

But this also means that journalists must reflect reality as it is and not as we would like it to be. Extreme political polarization requires intelligence to avoid falling into the easy trap of taking sides, which multiplies confrontation, and the application of basic rules to know what to do when faced with news.

Credibility and decency are our symbolic capital: this is the target of attacks that aim to undermine these attributes. Its preservation and defense are essential in the face of the temptations and pitfalls that journalists will face in their careers.

The quality of journalism and the public’s trust in our work are, so far, the only guarantees for us to remain firm in this turbulent sea of ​​uncertainty.

I would like to finish by citing another principle stated as a guideline by the Academy:

“It is the obligation of journalists to respect the laws and the system that underlies and protects our profession – republican democracy -, guaranteeing pluralism and respect for minorities. A democratic debate is one that admits the plurality of voices and points of view that coexist in a society.”

We will fulfill this commitment with dignity.