Journalist Day Highlights Role of Media Amid Influencer Involvement

On July 11, the annual Journalist Day was observed with calls to reinforce the profession’s social role against disinformation. The commentary noted that the 2022 World Cup served as a test case, citing Brazil’s TV Globo hiring influencer Virginia Fonseca – who has nearly 57 million followers – as a special reporter. Critics argue that audience size alone does not qualify someone to perform core journalistic functions, stressing the need for rigorous ethics, credibility and public‑interest service.

The piece urged journalists to demonstrate added value beyond entertainment, warning that the surge of digital platforms has increased the spread of misleading content and propaganda. It concludes that, amid the rapid reshaping of the media ecosystem, the profession must unite to strengthen its contribution to an informed society.