The newspaper O Alcoa celebrated 80 years on December 27, 2025, but the celebrations extend throughout the year. The festivities began with a mass presided by the patriarch of Lisbon, D. Rui Valério, followed by a dinner. A commemorative concert takes place at the Cineteatro João D'Oliva Monteiro in Alcobaça, featuring the Light Orchestra of the Sociedade Filarmónica Vestiariense Monsenhor José Cacella, conducted by maestro João Gaspar, and tenor Filipe de Moura. The Grupo Prata da Casa presents a biographical staging about the newspaper's history.
The newspaper's editor, Catarina Reis, states that O Alcoa's longevity reflects the continuity of a commitment that spans generations: to inform with rigor and truth, to defend Christian and democratic values, to preserve local culture, and to keep collective identity alive. The newspaper's coordinator is the parish priest of the Parish of Alcobaça and Vestiaria, currently Father Tiago Roque, and the founder was Father Manuel Vitorino.
When asked about the most significant moments, Catarina Reis highlights the Covid-19 pandemic, when the team had to reinvent routines, produce editions remotely, and continue informing without knowing exactly what risks they were taking. The newspaper closely followed the life of Alcobaça and Nazaré, with the attention of a local community newspaper.
As for current challenges, Catarina Reis points to declining print runs, the drop in advertising revenue, the reduction of financial support, and the growing shortage of technical and human resources. The newspaper has entered its 81st year, and the editor argues that the challenge lies in combining print and digital in a balanced way, ensuring that credibility, independence, rigor, and public service continue to be at the center of journalistic work.
