“The adoption of this document does not, under any circumstances, conflict with the press law, nor with the status of journalists, and does not have the purpose of censoring professionals or media bodies, scrupulously respecting the applicable legal, ethical and deontological frameworks”, reads a statement from the ‘blues and whites’.
Previously, the SJ asked photojournalists to refuse FC Porto’s impositions to work at Estádio do Dragão, remembering that they are already covered by the press law and the code of ethics.
In a statement, the SJ considered “inadmissible the document that FC Porto wants to force photojournalists to sign in order to work at the club’s sporting events, namely the games at Estádio do Dragão”.
At issue is the implementation of a prior subscription to a term of responsibility for the accreditation of photographers, within the scope of the accreditation process for games on the ‘blue and white’ ground, to, according to the club, “safeguard the professional dignity, the editorial purpose and the legitimate exercise of the activity of duly qualified photojournalists”.
According to the emblem led by André Villas-Boas, FC Porto only accredits photographers who are journalists duly qualified with a Professional Card, working for media outlets.
But this new rule is a response to practices in which “some professionals, although accredited as photojournalists, carry out activities of a commercial nature, namely capturing images for subsequent sale to third parties or carrying out unauthorized transmissions, broadcasts or ‘streaming’, deviating from the purely editorial purpose that legitimizes the attribution of accreditation”, highlighted FC Porto.
For its part, the SJ highlighted that the “Professional Journalist Card, whose issuance categorizes professionals in compliance with ethical, deontological and legal requirements, is sufficient for granting accreditation for public events”, pointing out that “it is the only criterion that the SJ can accept so that journalists’ access is guaranteed”.
The SJ also recalled that “journalists are already obliged to comply with the press law and the journalist statute” and also have “an ethical and deontological code that is the basis for exercising the profession”.
And that, therefore, journalists do not need “a club or other institution to request, in writing and signed, this commitment”.
FC Porto highlighted that “the aforementioned term of responsibility aims to clarify duties and responsibilities, protecting the legitimate journalistic exercise and ensuring that the accreditation granted by FC Porto is used exclusively for editorial purposes”, and that “it must be clear that this document does not limit, nor condition, in any case, the legitimate exercise of the profession of photojournalist”.
And he highlighted that this measure is a “common practice” – giving an example from UEFA, but also from the ACP and WRC, organizers of the Rally of Portugal – and therefore he believes that “it will be well received by the media and its professionals, representing a positive contribution so that sports information – transmitted through images – continues to be guided, at national level, by the quality, rigor and integrity for which it is recognized.
