The Minister of Planning and Development, Salim Valá, warned on Thursday (14) in Maputo of the growing financial fragility of Mozambican media outlets, arguing for the need to strengthen the sector’s economic, institutional, and technological sustainability to ensure the consolidation of democracy in the country, according to an official statement.
Speaking at the opening of the National Conference on Media Sustainability, Valá acknowledged that media outlets face “enormous financial and operational constraints,” exacerbated by the digital transformation, the migration of advertising to global technology platforms, and changes in information consumption.
“Today, media sustainability indicators have become more complex and multidimensional,” the minister stated, adding that the financial survival of media companies is no longer sufficient to ensure editorial independence and the strengthening of the democratic space.
According to Valá, the economic fragility of the media could compromise the nation’s ability to produce credible information, promote pluralism, and preserve the public interest. “Whenever journalism weakens, so too does society’s ability to engage in informed debate, hold power to account, and protect fundamental freedoms,” he declared.
The minister argued that the sustainability of the media should be understood from a broader perspective, encompassing economic, ethical, professional, technological, and democratic dimensions.
During his speech, the minister also highlighted the growing impact of artificial intelligence and digital platforms on the traditional model of newsroom operations, arguing that Mozambican media need to reinvent themselves without compromising the fundamental principles of journalism.
“It is important that the media be able to reinvent itself without losing its identity, modernize without abandoning the fundamental principles of journalism, and adapt to new digital languages without compromising the credibility it has earned over time,” he stated.
Valá acknowledged, however, the resilience demonstrated by national media outlets, emphasizing that the sector continues to play a central role in promoting public debate, citizenship, and transparency, despite financial and structural limitations.
The minister also highlighted the recent approval of the media legislative package, including the new laws on the Media, Broadcasting, and the Superior Council for the Media—measures he considers essential for modernizing the sector and adapting it to the digital economy.
The National Conference on Media Sustainability is taking place today (14), in Maputo, under the theme “Discussing the Sustainability of Media Outlets Is Also Reflecting on Democracy,” bringing together government officials, media professionals, civil society representatives, academics, cooperation partners, and industry experts to discuss the economic, technological, and institutional challenges affecting media sustainability in Mozambique.
