Newsroom Style Changes Ahead Of Elections

Michael Hedges September 9, 2009 Follow on Twitter

A news program was cancelled and prominent newscaster suspended, prompting news editors resignations. There are denials and accusations. As usual, many things are tangled.

Portuguese broadcaster TVI suspended news anchor Manuela Moura Guedes last Thursday (September 3) with immediate effect and announced other changes in its news programming, including cancellation of news program Jornal Nacional. Politicians immediately raised charges of political influence and censorship. But some media watchers in Portugal suggest a different, if not equally questionable, power play.

TVI was scheduled to broadcast (September 4) an investigative report on the evening news program, which Ms Guedes usually anchors, about a controversy known in Portugal – and the UK - as the Freeport case. It seems Prime Minister Jose Sócrates, as Environment Minister in a previous administration, waived a few rules in 2002 to allow construction of the Freeport Design Centre shopping mall near Lisbon. Then, it seems, about £4 million flowed from the UK to Portugal. British and Portuguese authorities got involved, suspecting kickbacks. 

Last April PM Sócrates filed a court complaint against Ms Guedes and two other TVI reporters for a broadcast report on TVI suggesting PM Sócrates involvement in the Freeport case. The story gets murkier as British authorities suggested Portuguese authorities of dragging their feet, so to speak. Mr. Sócrates has repeatedly denied any involvement, saying the entire affair is politically motivated. But striking out at the media hasn’t quieted local interest, particularly among TV journalists, with legislative elections scheduled for September 27.

Television broadcaster TVI is owned by Media Capital, which in turn is primarily owned by Spanish media company Grupo Prisa. PM Sócrates has been critical of TVI’s critical news coverage.  Grupo Prisa said the news program was cancelled to “strengthen the weekly schedule.”

Their financial predicament well-known Grupo Prisa is, reportedly, looking to sell TVI. Any transfer would require, obviously, government approval. In August TVI General Director José Eduardo Moniz stepped down to ease the process of finding a new owner, according to media watcher in Portugal. Mr. Moniz and Ms Guedes are married. Portuguese media company Ongoing is said to be the leading candidate to acquire TVI. Mr. Moniz, on leaving TVI, became an executive with Ongoing.

“I consider (the cancellation of the news program and suspension of Ms Guedes) to be absolutely unacceptable,” said Regulatory Authority for the Media (Entidade Reguladora da Comunicação) (ERC) chairman Jose Azeredo Lopes. “This is a public service broadcaster and we cannot ignore the consequences of such a decision during an electoral campaign.” The ERC asked TVI and Media Capital for explanations. 

Politicians wasted no time raising the temperature. Social Democrat party leader Pacheco Pereira accused Jose Sócrates of trying to “prevent the free movement of journalists.” Socialist Party spokesperson Jorge Lacão, speaking at the party’s national convention in Lisbon (September 6) retorted, “We are democrats, we are tolerant, but do not ask us to be silly.”

Of course, all of this is being played out in televised debates. Meeting PCP leader Jerónimo de Sousa on RTP (September 6) Mr. Sócrates said he had nothing to do with the new programs’ cancellation nor does he know anybody in the Prisa management.

“The situation at this moment at TVI, a decision coming from Spain, affects Portuguese editorial content, which, according to Portuguese law, is illegal, said People’s Party leader Pedro Mota Soares.” The Standing Committee of the Portuguese Parliament will meet (September 10) to allow an airing of opinions on the unfolding TVI controversy. “It is normal for the parliament to monitor what is happening in the country,” said Soares.

But another aspect surfaced as TVI journalists also began to speak out. Ms Guedes has been one of the most high profile news anchors in Portugal. One newspaper article described her as a ‘Cronkite,’ referring to long serving American television news anchor Walter Cronkite who recently died. Ms Guedes “combative” style on the news program apparently had off-air aspects. The newsroom environment was described by one journalist as a “knife fight.” Another said, “Anyone does not agree with what she says or does in punished.”

TVI said a new news director would be named very soon.