CCPJ opposes political representatives in Lusa Advisory Council

The Commission of the Professional Journalist's Wallet (CCPJ) has expressed strong opposition to the inclusion of political representatives in the Advisory Council of the Lusa news agency. In a report published by parliament regarding legislative proposals for the state-owned agency, the CCPJ emphasized that while Lusa is 100% state-owned, its activities must be subject to internal scrutiny to ensure editorial independence.

The CCPJ supports the existence of an internal supervisory body, such as the current Advisory Council, but argues that the focus should be on the quality and competencies of its members rather than political appointments. The commission suggested that instead of appointing the administration directly, the supervisory body should issue binding opinions on potential members to prevent political interference and guarantee plurality of information.

Furthermore, the CCPJ advocates for external scrutiny of the agency's activities, specifically through the Assembly of the Republic, to ensure proper management of public assets and the fulfillment of public service obligations.