Cristina Serra announces candidacy for president of the Brazilian Press Association – ABI

Por Gustavo Kaye, do Agenda do Poder -  A Associação Brasileira de Imprensa (ABI) terá, em abril, uma nova direção. Com as eleições à vista, a jornalista e escritora Cristina Serra, filiada à entidade desde sua formação, apresentou nesta sexta-feira (4) sua candidatura.

If elected, she could be the first woman to lead the ABI since its creation some 113 years ago. For now, the slate she chairs is the only one in the running. Others are still being discussed and may be officially announced soon, Paulo Jerônimo told Portal IMPRENSA.

In an exclusive interview, Cristina discusses her proposals and how she envisions the institution's future. Check it out!

PRESS Portal: How important is the ABI election this year?Cristina Serra: The ABI has a historic role in the fight for democracy. During the Diretas (Direct Elections) era, it played a very important role. The president was Barbosa Lima Sobrinho, a very elderly gentleman who actively participated in the campaign. I was a journalism student, and I watched his work and found it inspiring. I felt deeply represented by that man in the suit with the white hair. But he spoke for me; at that moment, as a citizen, I felt represented by him, and even more so as a journalist. And that's why I joined the ABI.

Given ABI's history, in a year like the one we're about to face, it becomes even more important. In fact, the current ABI leadership was elected in 2019, during the Bolsonaro administration. There was already a context, even at the beginning of the administration, of hostility toward the press and journalists on the part of the president. It worsened to the point that, according to a Fenaj survey, he was the source of most attacks against the press and journalists. 

When the current board was elected, this context already existed, and it has done very important work defending the category, defending journalists, and defending democracy, therefore, continuing this historic role of the ABI. 

In this year, when the fight against right-wing extremism will be so important, this highlights even more the importance of ABI's actions in defense of democracy, the Democratic Rule of Law, democratic freedoms, journalists and freedom of expression. 

The election takes place at the end of April, very close to the [presidential] election campaign, so we have this coincidence, we journalists, citizens, of having two very important and decisive elections for Brazil and for journalism. 

IP – What are the main projects of the program of the ticket you preside over?

CS – The program I advocate, and which has the support of many people, including the current board—but not only. I've already discussed this with many colleagues—firstly, defending democracy. Secondly, restoring the ABI from a material and financial standpoint.

ABI's headquarters are in Rio de Janeiro, in a place of great cultural importance, in a complex that houses the former Ministry of Education, the National Museum of Fine Arts, and the National Library. The ABI building was significantly impacted by the pandemic because it owns the entire building but only occupies a few spaces. The others are rented for commercial operations, a number of other businesses. With the pandemic, these spaces were emptied, people surrendered their offices, and they could no longer fulfill their contracts, as the pandemic forced us to work remotely. 

This has had a huge impact. We need to find other ways. We hope that once the pandemic is under control, these rooms will be rented again, but the pandemic has shown us that we need new sources of income. We need to find innovative financing options, beyond, of course, monthly fees. The building is old and has maintenance issues. We're considering offering courses, charging reasonable fees, and hosting events, charging for the use of the spaces. All of this is being discussed to repurpose the building.

Another very important agenda, in short, is the digitalization of ABI's communications. ABI has already improved significantly in this regard, with its YouTube channel, but we're just getting started. We need a major modernization, to enter this digital world. As I said, there's already a presence, but it needs to be more consistent and faster. 

IP – A ABI está promovendo junto aos poderes legislativo e judiciário várias ações.  Como vc vê o andamento destes processos e qual o mais importante?

CS – I think all these actions, in summary, are important because they essentially relate to the defense of democracy or democratic freedoms. The ABI has been very active in guaranteeing freedom of expression and opposing any attempt to censor any media outlet or professional practice.

But this is part of the ABI, and I think it maintains this line, but of course, it has intensified it, because we are in a difficult context, in which the attacks come from the president himself. So, at all times, it is necessary to position oneself in relation to this. 

One of the most important committees of the ABI is Human Rights, as this area has also been heavily attacked, again from the president, ministers and some sectors, the ABI has also been forced to take a position on this. 

Last but not least, the Brazilian Association of Biological Sciences (ABI) filed an impeachment request for Health Minister Marcelo Queiroga due to his delay in vaccinating children. The right to health is the right to life; it is the most basic right of a human being. The delay we've seen, this negative propaganda against child vaccination by the Health Minister, who is a doctor, is so disgraceful that the ABI took this initiative. Unfortunately, like several initiatives along these lines, including the president's impeachment request itself, it failed. 

IP – What is this slate's position on media regulation? And what about Big Tech?

CS – The position is crystal clear, although the term "regulation" lends itself to many interpretations. To take a position, we need to know exactly what we're talking about when we talk about media regulation.

But regardless, our position is that of the ABI, the position that is enshrined in the ABI Statute and the Constitution: freedom of the press, freedom of expression. For us, this is a fundamental clause. 

We are staunch defenders and committed to freedom of the press and expression. This discussion is not about content control, and we are adamantly opposed to it. 

Regarding big tech, it's extremely complex and being discussed at various levels, especially because we, as a society, need to better understand these impacts on communication and how they use content produced by journalists. It's on our horizon, but it's a discussion that needs to be deepened. 

Our commitment is to defend freedom of the press and freedom of expression as set out in the Constitution.

IP – The Brazilian Institute of Biological Sciences (ABI) has never had a female president (or even a female president) in its 94 years. Have other women run for this position? How do you view this challenge?

CS – With great humility, as an immense responsibility and an exciting challenge. It's important to note that when I became the head of the ticket, this issue came to light, considering that the category is predominantly female—from what I've read, I don't have a specific survey.

In this aspect, representation is very important, but what led me to accept the candidacy is the belief that I have a contribution to make at this time that Brazil is going through.

There's the component of representation, which is important, but I think I can add to it as well. Just as I was invited to be president, bringing representation through my ability to contribute, this was also what guided us in the composition of the ticket. It's not fully formed, but I already have the name of the vice president, who is also a woman, Helena Chagas, a great journalist who built her career in journalism in Brasília. She's a much-loved person. She was Secretary of Communications, with the status of minister, in the Dilma administration. So, she brings this public sector experience, adding this crucial element at this time. 

We invited her for these reasons, not because she's a woman, but it's great that there are two women leading the charge. She brings a certain weight that legitimizes us in the professional field.