Gilberto Carvalho criticizes the press and defends Franklin.
The Secretary-General of the Presidency questioned the contribution of the media to the country and recalled the work of the former Minister of the Secretariat of Social Communication.
The Chief Minister of the General Secretariat of the Presidency of the Republic, Gilberto Carvalho, today made what he called a "severe criticism" of the media and defended the former Minister of the Secretariat of Social Communication, Franklin Martins, who, according to him, "is still paying the price" for having drafted a proposal to create a social communication council.
The chief minister assessed that the media regulation project had no "authoritarian aspect" and advocated that media companies create a kind of "citizen council" to discuss programming schedules. He stressed, however, that this debate should not involve the federal government, thus avoiding any interference in media activity.
"This is a severe criticism I make of the role of the media," he stated. "I wonder if the media, today in Brazil, effectively contribute to the formation of civic consciousness," he added. The Chief Minister argued that the media should be questioned by society and stressed that, in his assessment, they can make an important contribution to Brazilian democracy.
"I have serious doubts about the impact these media outlets have on the average person, what kind of leap in citizenship does that person experience?" he asked. He also advocated for the adoption of forms of public participation in the media. "Why can't a television network, which has a public concession, form a citizens' council to work on programming?" he questioned, reiterating that these mechanisms should not involve the federal government.
The Chief Minister participated today in the debate "Governance in the New Economy," at the Ethos Conference 2011, in São Paulo. One of the provocations he made, referring to the press, was submitted to the audience for evaluation, who, through an electronic device, gave their opinion on the phrase: "The media do not effectively contribute to the formation of civic consciousness." Half of the audience, made up of about 200 people – composed of invited executives and managers of companies – fully agreed with the statement. Faced with the result, the Chief Minister joked: "This will be in the headlines: Dilma's government attacks freedom of the press," he said, laughing.