Portuguese journalists ask the world not to close its eyes to the survival of the free press

The Canary has heard from a group of journalists in Portugal. Their magazine, VISÃO, went bankrupt but they’ve revived it as an independent production. Now they’re taking the campaign for independent media global, with the slogan #NãoFechemOsOlhos which means Don’t Close Your Eyes:

The 12 journalists of VISÃO speak out

The magazine went bankrupt, salaries disappeared, and the newsroom was left without resources. Even so, the 12 journalists of VISÃO kept working. They produced the magazine, joined forces to try to buy the title itself, raising €200,000 in 10 days, and turned the crisis into a manifesto in defense of serious and independent journalism, at a time marked by the spread of fake news.

For 32 years, VISÃO has reached newsstands every week, known for its in-depth reporting and serious journalism. Last year, the group to which it belonged was unable to overcome the challenges of editorial changes and filed for bankruptcy, even though it is the best-selling title in the country.

From the newsroom, only 12 brave journalists remained. With unpaid salaries and no physical newsroom, they decided to keep publishing the magazine from their homes, using their own resources — resisting like soldiers in an improvised trench. So far, they’ve produced 25 issues under extremely difficult conditions. And there is more. They want to win this war by buying the title and continuing to print it. Although the magazine has a website with some articles, VISÃO still relies mainly on its print edition and newsstand sales.

In an era dominated by fake news, clickbait, AI texts, and a political landscape in which democracy faces real risks, the fight of these 12 journalists has taken on a much greater meaning.

From a gesture, a movement is born

Under the slogan #DontCloseYourEyes, the movement began with a simple gesture: closing the eyes of the 12 journalists in images published in the magazine and on social media. This symbol helped open the eyes of hundreds of public figures – from music, culture, politicians – and crossed borders, gaining support from names such as Brazilian writer and comedian Gregório Duvivier and Spanish journalist Pilar del Río.

The goal of raising a substantial amount through crowdfunding in order to bid at auction and buy VISÃO led to an unprecedented result: in just 10 days, the initial target of €200,000 was reached – and exceeded.

This outcome confirms something that had already been felt: even in a country facing economic difficulties and a political moment that puts democracy at risk, there are still people who believe in and support serious journalism and a free press.

In fact, many do. According to the Digital News Report Obercom / Reuters Institute 2024/25, Portugal is among the European countries with the highest levels of trust in news. But this fight is only just beginning.

For democracy and against fake news

The #DontCloseYourEyes movement has come to symbolize a struggle that goes beyond journalism itself. Portugal’s political landscape has shifted in recent times, and for the second time in its democratic history (after forty years) there will be a second round in the presidential elections. A democratic candidate and a far-right candidate who follows the same Trumpist and Bolsonarist playbook are in the running.

Only 52 years after the Revolução dos Cravos and the end of dictatorship in Portugal, democracy is once again at risk. And if there is no democracy without a free press, the fight of these 12 journalists takes on even greater urgency when private investors threaten to enter the auction to buy the magazine simply to shut it down.

Buying the title and becoming the country’s first independent print media outlet has become more than a movement, it is an act of resistance.

More than 12, we are MIL (Movement for a Free Press)

The #DontCloseYourEyes campaign needs more eyes open around the world. Quite simply, it needs greater strength to secure priority in the purchase and prevent a magazine with decades of investigative journalism from falling into the wrong hands.

Mainly because we need more people and more journalists to join forces in defense of democracy, a free press, and, above all, the right to quality, nonpartisan information that all citizens should have access to.

Closing your eyes is easy. Keeping them open when everything around you demands surrender is the hard part. If journalism closes its eyes, the whole world is left in the dark. For democratic values and independent journalism – now more threatened than ever – VISÃO invites everyone to join the Movement for a free press, using the most powerful weapon we have: information.

The 12 journalists of VISÃO are:

Rui Tavares Guedes, Margarida Davim, Alexandra Correia, Filipe Luís, Rosa Ruela, Plácido Junior, Clara Cardoso, José Barros Moura, Rui Antunes, João Carlos Mendes, Sónia Calheiros, Lucília Monteiro.

#DontCloseYourEyes

Featured image via VISÃO