The 2026 Media Pluralism Monitor report identifies structural vulnerabilities in the Portuguese media sector and offers recommendations across four core areas. Here is a brief summary of some of these recommendations.

Fundamental Protection highlights the urgent need to approve the new Media Law Code and fully implement the national Media Action Plan. It recommends decriminalising defamation, adopting anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) legislation, and strengthening whistleblower protection. It also calls for a coordinated national strategy to combat disinformation and FIMI (Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference), with stronger transparency obligations for platforms and clearer reporting requirements for VLOPs (Very Large Online Platforms).

In Market Plurality, the report urges swift approval of the new Media Law Code and rapid discussion of the revised Media Transparency Law. The regulator (ERC) should strengthen oversight of commercial pressures on journalism and ensure greater public disclosure of media ownership. Public service media must fulfil their mission effectively, while private companies should innovate beyond traditional business models.

On Political Independence, the report calls for a robust public policy approach to address the media’s structural crisis, protect journalism, and combat political disinformation, including AI-generated content targeting younger audiences. Regulators must remain independent. The governance of Lusa and the restructuring of RTP require close scrutiny. Journalists should strengthen ethical standards, avoid publishing daily tracking polls, and promote greater methodological transparency to prevent distortions in public debate.

In Social Inclusion, the report recommends effective mechanisms for assessing equality policies, stronger support for local and regional media, full implementation of the National Media Literacy Plan, and improved systems to monitor and combat online hate speech. Media organisations should adopt gender-equality and diversity policies, and the regulator should raise minimum accessibility standards, including audio description.

The European MPM general report is available here:

The Portuguese full report can be read in English or Portuguese at the following link: