STF Ministers Discuss Reinstating Mandatory Journalism Degrees

Supreme Court (STF) Ministers Flávio Dino and Alexandre de Moraes discussed the possibility of revising a 2009 court decision that removed the requirement for a journalism degree to practice the profession. The debate occurred during a First Turma session regarding a right of response granted to a medical clinic following a TV Globo report on sexual abuse allegations. The judgment was suspended after Minister Cármen Lúcia requested more time for analysis.

Minister Dino argued that the lack of a degree requirement makes it difficult to determine who is entitled to constitutional guarantees, such as source confidentiality. He suggested that the automatic extension of these protections to any blogger could allow criminal factions like the PCC and Comando Vermelho to select their own bloggers to shield themselves under professional guarantees. Minister Moraes supported this view, stating that the court should reflect on the issue to prevent people from claiming the status of journalist simply to offend others while hiding behind press freedom. Moraes suggested a transition rule for those already practicing the profession.

These comments follow a recent controversy involving a monocratic decision by Minister Moraes to authorize searches for the source of a journalist in Maranhão, Luís Pablo, who published reports about the use of official cars by Flávio Dino's family. Minister Dino stated that source confidentiality is not absolute and should be tied to the professional exercise of providing information rather than disseminating disinformation.

Outlets with a center-right lean framed the events as a potential advance against press freedom and a corporate defense by the Court. In contrast, the center-lean outlet framed the discussion as a debate over the professionalization of journalism and the prevention of distortions caused by the lack of regulation.