The pioneers of the theory of journalism in Portugal and the definition of the territory of journalism and of journalists

Abstract

This paper will try to launch a panoramic vision of how the first Portuguese journalism theorists conceptualized this activity and its main actors, the journalists, until 1974, year of the reestablishment of democracy in the country. It is observed that the early authors who have tried to conceptualize the territory of journalism and journalists in Portugal opposed arguments on the concepts of journalism and journalists. Some of them saw in industrial and professional journalism almost an ignominious activity. In fact, Portuguese theorists did not hesitate to critically examine journalism and the environment in which it was being exercised over time, as they did not hesitate to seek to provide a reference framework for journalism values and practices, trying to moralize, elevate and dignify the activity