Time to give thanks

A few days ago, news broke that the VISÃO magazine newsroom was being dismantled. Such news always carries a heavy weight for all those who value a pluralistic approach to information. We know that nothing lasts forever, but the respect I have for those who dedicate their lives to informing requires that, deviating from my usual style, I must mention them. For this reason, readers, please allow me, exceptionally, not to offer my opinion on matters of justice, but rather to express gratitude and tribute.

I feel it my duty to express my gratitude for the opportunity I've been given to write here weekly. Without knowing anyone who directed or worked for the magazine, without formal introductions or personal acquaintances, without any special background beyond the one I'm most proud of (being a judge), and in a time when so often what one knows matters more than what one writes, it's almost revolutionary. The trust I was given—to open a space for opinion in this magazine—said more to me about freedom and responsibility than many texts on the subject.

My relationship with VISÃO has been one of remarkable loyalty. Everything I write has always been presented without any monetary or other compensation, while the magazine has never received any recommendation, criticism, or influence. What reaches the reader, with varying degrees of accuracy, is written within a relationship of pure freedom of opinion and expression.

But this isn't the relationship that matters most, because what's most important is that a society like ours remains democratic and served by critical mass and plurality. Every time a media outlet closes, it's like a light going out. With it, a space for thought, for the confrontation of ideas, and for diversity is lost. Democratic plurality doesn't just live in parliaments or at the ballot box. It lives in the pages of newspapers, in opinion columns and in long articles that attempt to analyze the complexity of our current reality. Every newspaper, every magazine that closes is a voice silenced. And when that happens, we all become poorer.

Everyone is aware that perfection doesn't exist. Media outlets also sometimes have limitations and make mistakes. But this doesn't erase the fact that they perform a function that no social network, no matter how sophisticated, can replace. They filter, contextualize, investigate, interrogate. And above all, they engage with the reader. There's a relationship of trust here that isn't built with viral posts. It's a trust that thrives on persistence, consistency, and quality. It's a trust that has a face. Therefore, when a magazine closes, a link in this chain of trust is broken.

It's true that times are tough for the press. The attention economy pushes us toward short, free, disposable content. Reading a long article has become almost an act of resistance. But there is no healthy democracy without free and plural information. And that costs money. It costs time, it costs work. Pretending it's possible to have all this without investment is an illusion. Just as it's an illusion to believe we can do without the wealth of information, debate, and scrutiny that the press provides.

It's only fair to remember how much has been accomplished here. Thousands of pages written, thousands of topics addressed with directness and courage. Here we find journalism, thought, and commitment. And this is worthy of tribute, but also of warning, because in order to continue demanding good information, we must also consider the extent to which we, as a community, are willing to support projects that make a difference.

So, to everyone who makes this magazine possible: thank you. For your work, your courage, and your persistence. A special thank you to the people who were and are responsible for editing the articles I write: editors Sara Belo Luís and Clara Cardoso, respectively. Whatever the future holds, may you continue to defend journalism as a common good, and may silence never replace plurality.

The texts in this section reflect the authors' personal opinions. They do not represent VISÃO nor reflect its editorial position.