Pedro Duarte, president of the Porto City Council, publicly defended the possibility of public funding for journalism as a way to combat disinformation. This position was taken during a speech about the future of the media.
The mayor proposed a new sustainability model for media outlets, recognizing that traditional funding sources face growing difficulties. However, Pedro Duarte emphasized that any form of public support will have to guarantee editorial independence and informational rigor.
The position of the president of the Porto City Council arises in a context of growing concern about the proliferation of fake news and the financial fragility of many media outlets. The debate on how to support journalism without compromising its editorial freedom has gained relevance in several European countries.
