Fenaj demands journalist rights and digital regulation in letters to candidates

The National Federation of Journalists (Fenaj) has issued two open letters to presidential and congressional candidates in Brazil, outlining critical demands for the profession. The federation warns of the precarization of labor rights and the need for regulation of digital platforms. Fenaj argues that the dominance of US-based platforms and the use of artificial intelligence threaten Brazilian sovereignty and the economic future of journalists by utilizing content without fair compensation.

Key demands include the approval of a National Minimum Wage for journalists, combating 'pejotização' (hiring individuals as corporations to bypass labor laws), and the creation of the National Fund for Journalism Support (Funajor), funded by taxes on multinational digital platforms. Additionally, the federation calls for the revocation of the Multimedia Law and the strengthening of the Empresa Brasil de Comunicação (EBC) to ensure editorial autonomy and public funding.

Fenaj President Samira de Castro also expressed concern regarding the 'tiktokization' of political campaigns, noting that superficial marketing and a focus on instant audience engagement are hollowing out meaningful debate on structural national issues.