The President of the Azores Government has advocated for a public subsidy system that focuses on professional training, combats precarious working conditions, and improves journalists’ income. Jose Manuel Bolieiro said that “a public subsidy system should prioritize professional training, progressive elimination of job precarity, and improvement in professionals’ earnings in media companies. Yes, also for technological innovation and modernization, but the priority focus should be on these elements of human resource development.”
Speaking at the closing speech of the 1st Azores Journalists Congress in Ponta Delgada, Bolieiro, who leads a coalition government comprised of the PSD/CDS-PP/PPM parties, paid homage to the late journalist and professor Mario Mesquita, whose personal library will be donated to the region in accordance with his wishes.
In terms of current journalism, the regional head of government referred to a “capital of quality” in the region and the need to “assume a public responsibility” that will capitalize it. Hence, the intention to prioritize regional subsidies towards “the valorization of human resources,” advocating for conferences, congresses, and continuous training.
Bolieiro said that “the democratic scrutiny that journalism empowers is welcome and should be conducted with rigor, objectivity, and cultural ability to generate knowledge.” He furthered that “when a significant part of the regional subsidy is directed towards private media, in the name of a responsible State, I cannot forgo asserting the importance of public service obligations of radio, television, and news agency [Lusa] in the Azores.”