Communication associations repudiate boycott action against Jovem Pan

Radio and television associations repudiated the actions of intimidation and political persecution led by the group called Sleeping Giants Brasil against Jovem Pan, in a note released this Wednesday (22). The activism group, with a leftist political bias, is known for intimidating advertisers to try to withdraw from the market communication vehicles with which they differ politically.

The actions consist of using the group’s account on social networks to tag profiles of companies that advertise in the communication vehicles, pressuring them to withdraw the advertisements under penalty of being embarrassed and exposed, increasing the rejection of the brand, if they do not give in to intimidation. . A People’s Gazette was already targeted by the group in 2020. Since the end of last year, Sleeping Giants has been using fake news to attack the Jovem Pan group.

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In the note from the entities, the Brazilian Association of Radio and Television (Abratel) expressed concern about the campaigns carried out by the political activism group. Abratel stated that “it defends that the exercise of the right to information, plurality of ideas and freedom of expression are fundamental pillars of democracy and must be guaranteed to all means of social communication”. According to the association, differences must be maintained in debates and it is important to respect institutions and the Constitution.

The Brazilian Association of Radio and Television Broadcasters (Abert) also said that it follows, with concern, the boycott action of Sleeping Giants Brasil. “This is an unequivocal act of intimidation whose purpose is the economic weakening of communication vehicles, with serious repercussions and damage to several press professionals who legitimately exercise their professional activity”, informed Abert. The association also highlighted that this is not the path of freedom of expression and of the press.

The Association of Radio and Television Broadcasters of the State of São Paulo (Aesp) said that it repudiates the attacks on communication vehicles. “Such actions have serious consequences, as they harm freedom of expression and the press, which are constitutionally guaranteed, in addition to causing various damages to the sector, professionals of the free press and the listener/viewer, directly impacting the expression of thought, creation, expression and information”.

The Associação Paulista de Imprensa was another to demonstrate against the conduct of the activism group. According to the entity, “under the cover of defending democracy” the Sleeping Giants practice censorship on social networks. “It is necessary to put a definitive stop to this type of media guerrilla warfare, which, in addition to ruining lives and reputations, also causes an imbalance in the country’s economy”, he said. Also, the association asked the authorities, such as the Federal Supreme Court (STF) and the National Congress, to take the appropriate measures to cease actions against the communication vehicles.

Left-aligned vehicles were never targeted by the group.

The anonymous group, although it has already declared itself politically impartial, has already pursued several communication vehicles, none of them with a left-wing editorial line.

In 2020, the group ran a campaign to embarrass advertisers in the People’s Gazette. The attacks on Gazeta and its advertisers began after the newspaper reported that it would not remove columnist Rodrigo Constantino, involved in a false accusation of apology for rape.

The attack on Jovem Pan, according to Revista Oeste, would have already been responsible for the removal of more than 50 advertisers from the communication group. Experts heard by People’s Gazette have already said that the movement puts freedom of expression at risk, in addition to committing illicit acts.

The Jovem Pan Group, in a statement, also condemned the attacks and reinforced its commitment to freedom of the press. “Taking the lines of interviewees and commentators out of context and creating false narratives about the company’s editorial positioning is a reprehensible method, which goes beyond ethical limits”, he pointed out. Still, “threatening companies and their customers is an unacceptable attempt at media regulation imposed in a terroristic, blackmailing and marginal way to the law”, says the group.