On 19 February, MeDeMAP gathered journalists, legal experts, researchers, and citizens at the Lusófona University – Lisbon University Centre for the debate “Jornalistas e Audiências – Perceções Dissonantes”, focused on news integrity and public trust in Portugal.
The discussion addressed the structural and perceptual gaps between journalists and audiences that shape credibility and democratic resilience. Key points included:
- Persistent misalignment between professional journalistic standards and audience expectations;
- The importance of transparency, accountability, and media literacy in rebuilding trust;
- The need to recognise both dissonances and areas of convergence.
Chaired by Nuno Cintra Torres, the panel featured Jacinto Godinho (RTP), Tiago Bessa (European lawyer), José Alberto Lemos (former Ombudsman at Público), and Maria Almeida (Fumaça).
The debate reinforced a core insight of MeDeMAP’s research: strengthening democratic media ecosystems requires sustained dialogue between those who produce journalism and those who engage with it.