Poland

[PT] High Authority Disagrees with Nomination of New Director General of RTP

IRIS 2001-10:1/20

Helena Sousa

Communication and Society Research Centre, University of Minho

On 4 October 2001, the Alta Autoridade para a Comunicação Social (High Authority for the Media) issued for the first time a negative statement regarding the appointment of a General Director to the public service television company, Radiotelevisão Portuguesa (RTP).

According to Article 4 of Lei da Alta Autoridade para a Comunicação Social (Law nº 43/98 of 6 August), the nomination of the Director General of RTP requires a prior, reasoned and public judgment by the High Authority for the Media. In its statement, the High Authority considered that the changes in the functions of the new Director General would go too far, showing a lack of strategic orientation in RTP and giving over-broad powers to the new Director. The High Authority also stated that the professional merits of the candidate, Emídio Rangel, were not disputed, but it considered that when he had been Director General of the commercial television station, Sociedade Independente de Comunicação (SIC), Emídio Rangel had promoted news and programming which were the antithesis of public service television's obligations and duties.

The High Authority's judgment is not binding and Emídio Rangel was nominated by the company's board as its Director General.