Macau’s Portuguese-language journalists at TdM brace for restrictions on press freedom amid recent events at public broadcaster
- Uncertainty sparked after journalists called to meeting where nine-point directive on ‘patriotism, respect and love’ for China was read out, underscoring the editorial policy
- Seven journalists have resigned, while others fear management is deliberately creating fertile ground for self-censorship
Macau’s Portuguese-language journalists are bracing themselves for restrictions on press freedom following recent events at the gambling hub’s public broadcaster.
Some journalists have resigned in recent weeks, while others are worried about increasing self-censorship as the former Portuguese colony’s media scene becomes more pro-Beijing.
The uncertainty was sparked after about 25 journalists and producers at public broadcaster Teledifusao de Macau (TdM) were called to a meeting on March 10 where João Francisco Pinto, who manages its Portuguese-language channels, read out a nine-point directive.
No written document was handed out, but many took notes of new editorial rules spelling out that the broadcaster would strive to promote “patriotism, respect and love” for China and the Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR).
A TdM journalist, who asked not to be named, sent the Post a summary of the directive, saying it was drawn up by the broadcaster’s executive committee and meant to redefine the newsroom’s editorial policy.
It made clear that TdM journalists were expected to avoid disseminating “information or opinions contrary to the politics of the central government” as well as measures adopted by Macau.