The Regulatory Entity for Social Communication (ERC) decided to open an investigation procedure into the case involving the mayor of Coimbra, Ana Abrunhosa, after she made accusations against a Lusa journalist.
Contacted by Lusa, an official ERC source said that the ERC Regulatory Council, “at its meeting on April 16”, analyzed the issue, “having decided to open” an administrative investigation procedure, within the scope of its powers and responsibilities.
On Monday, the president of the Journalists’ Union (SJ) highlighted that journalists are scrutinized every day and challenged Ana Abrunhosa to say that “a serious breach of ethics” was committed by Lusa journalist João Gaspar.
“She [Ana Abrunhosa] questioned whether journalists cannot be examined. They are scrutinized every day, as we have seen in several processes lately. They cannot be punished or attacked for scrutinizing who they have to scrutinize”, said Luís Filipe Simões upon leaving the ERC.
At issue is an incident that occurred at the last council meeting, following the publication of a news story about Casa do Cinema de Coimbra, in which the Lusa journalist reported that the space was at risk of losing its license due to the municipality not moving forward with the agreed rehabilitation plan, stating that he questioned the municipal executive, but received no response.
Among the accusations, Ana Abrunhosa stated that the journalist failed to tell the truth in a piece of news, accusing him of a “serious deontological failure”, accusing him of having his own “political agenda”, and therefore taking away trust in the journalist.
On Friday, following this episode, Lusa’s Information Directorate (DI) wrote a letter to the mayor of Coimbra “repudiating the mayor’s accusations”.
The DI considered that the accusations made by the Mayor of Coimbra were “unreasonable, unfounded and defamatory” and reiterated its confidence in journalist João Gaspar, “whose journalism career in Lusa is irreproachable”.
The Editorial Board (CR) and the Workers’ Committee (CT) of Lusa also repudiated the mayor’s statements.
The Lusa administration condemned the mayor’s “unjustifiable accusation” and argued that the activity of a news agency is not consistent with restrictions.
“Lusa celebrates its 40th anniversary this year and its values are rigor, clarity, plurality, independence and reliability, shared by all professionals in this house through a quality public service. The activity of a News Agency is not consistent with any conditioning to journalistic practice on the part of any entity”, said the administration, in a note sent to workers.
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