Journalists from Amazonas and federal deputies declare support for the PEC of the Diploma

Manaus (AM) – The mobilization in support of the Constitutional Amendment Proposal 206/2012, known as the Diploma in Journalism PEC, has been strengthened in Amazonas. The support of professionals, professors and students grows, as well as the public declarations of votes of the federal deputies of Amazonas in the Chamber of Deputies.

The National Federation of Journalists – FENAJ and the Union of Professional Journalists in the State of Amazonas – SJP/AM, launched in Manaus, the Amazonas Committee for the Defense of the PEC of the Diploma and are developing actions to mobilize professional journalists from Amazonas, students, university professors and society in general. For the coordinator of the Committee, journalist Islânia Lima, the category from the Amazon recently showed the strength it has, by recording videos, photos and sharing via social networks, the support for the fight for the resumption of the diploma.

“Every day we receive more supporters, people who believe in the importance of qualified professionals in newsrooms, to guarantee everything that is reported to society, as well as valuing the professional, who fought so hard in college, to practice the profession and have the due respect it deserves.”

said the journalist.

The reestablishment of the requirement of a diploma for the exercise of journalism in the country constitutes a national movement organized by the National Federation of Journalists (FENAJ), and the 31 Brazilian Unions. With the campaign under development, important support is being obtained from Universities and Colleges of Journalism, in addition to professional associations, such as the Brazilian Association for Teaching in Journalism (ABEJ) and the Brazilian Press Association – ABI, a century-old entity in the fight and achievements in Brazilian journalism.

“Our national movement is broad. On the one hand, we seek to draw society’s attention to the importance of journalism being practiced by professionals committed to ethics and quality in journalistic content. And, on the other hand, we work to sensitize the deputies in the federal parliament for the approval of the PEC. A struggle by journalists that is above party colors and acronyms”,

points out the president of the SJP/AM, Wilson Reis.

parliamentary support

In the Amazonian scoreboard, 50%, that is, four of the eight federal deputies from Amazonas have already declared support for the vote on the Diploma Pec. They are: Sidney Leite (PSD), Amom Mandel (Citizenship), Saullo Viana (União Brasil) and Átila Lins (PSD). Still need to confirm vote in favor, federal deputies Adail Filho (Republicans), Captain Alberto Neto (PL), Fausto Jr (União Brasil) and Silas Câmara (Republicans).

The federal deputy for Amazonas, Sidney Leite (PSD), was one of the first to declare support for the PEC. Journalist by training, the politician was at the headquarters of the Union of Professional Journalists of Amazonas (SJPAM), and reiterated his commitment to the category, which he also belongs to.

Then, federal deputy Amon Mandel (Citizenship), declared support for the national campaign in defense of the diploma and said that the moment is ideal to resume the agenda.

“I have already talked to professionals who expressed concerns about the damage to the profession, if there is no such requirement. I’ve always supported serious, independent journalism, including being one of my campaign commitments, so nothing fairer than supporting the cause and voting in favor. The class can count on me in this sense”, .

declared the federal parliamentarian

The position of the federal deputies reinforces the importance and the need to safeguard the fundamental right to information for society, guaranteeing the exercise of journalistic activity by qualified and ethically committed people.

“It is essential that journalists have adequate training, which is essential to inform readers, listeners and viewers. After all, professional journalism committed to ethics is one of the pillars of our democracy”,

said the federal deputy of Amazonas, Saullo Vianna.

About the PEC of the Diploma

PEC 206/2012 comes from the Senate (and was authored by then Senator Antônio Carlos Valadares), where it was approved in 2012 by a large majority of votes. In the Chamber of Deputies, it was attached to other proposals of the same content, among them, one authored by the current Minister of the Communication Secretariat (Secom) of the Presidency of the Republic, Paulo Pimenta. It passed through a Special Commission, being reported by Deputy Daniel Oliveira (PCdoB/BA) and symbolically approved. Therefore, after approval by the Special Committee, the matter is ready to be voted in plenary. For its approval, it needs at least 308 votes.

Once approved, the PEC does not retroactively revoke professional registrations issued from 2009 until the date of its enactment. “The law deals with access criteria for those who practice journalism professionally, that is, on a regular and paid basis. Communication is another level. It is a human condition, therefore, of free exercise and practice”, reinforces the president of Fenaj, Samira de Castro, explaining that the return of the diploma does not interfere, for example, in the performance of popular communicators.

*With advisory information

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