Fenaj advocates for mandatory journalism degrees in Brazil

The debate regarding the mandatory requirement of a higher education degree for practicing journalism has resurfaced in Brazil. Samira de Castro, president of the National Federation of Journalists (Fenaj), is advocating for the reinstatement of this requirement to distinguish professional journalists from social media content creators.

Castro argues that professional training is intrinsically linked to the constitutional protection of source confidentiality. She expressed concern over a recent Supreme Federal Court (STF) decision involving Minister Alexandre de Moraes, which she believes sets a worrying precedent regarding the breach of journalistic source secrecy in a case involving Minister Flávio Dino.

Fenaj has been presenting memorials to STF ministers since March of last year to support the necessity of formal education. Proponents of the measure suggest that in an era of mass disinformation and artificial intelligence, professional credentials are essential to ensure credibility, ethics, and social responsibility in news reporting.