Fenaj demands journalist protections and condemns political attacks

The National Federation of Journalists (Fenaj) has issued open letters to presidential and congressional candidates in Brazil, demanding better protections for the profession. Key demands include the approval of a national minimum wage for journalists, combating ‘pejotização’ (the practice of hiring individuals as companies to avoid labor rights), and the creation of a National Fund for Journalism Support (Funajor) funded by taxes on multinational digital platforms.

Fenaj also highlighted challenges posed by artificial intelligence and digital platforms, arguing that these entities use journalistic content without financial compensation. The federation advocates for the strengthening of the Empresa Brasil de Comunicação (EBC) to ensure editorial autonomy and public funding for democratic content.

Separately, Fenaj, the Minas Gerais Professional Journalists' Union (SJPMG), and the Coletivo Lena Santos have condemned attacks by Minas Gerais Governor and reelection candidate Mateus Simões against journalist Tatiana Lagôa. During a televised interview, Simões reportedly interrupted and labeled Lagôa ‘disloyal’ and ‘ideological’ after she questioned him regarding environmental licensing in the Serra do Curral. The organizations expressed solidarity with the journalist, emphasizing that questioning public officials is a fundamental part of professional journalism.