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Abstract

This article makes a critical analysis of Portuguese journalists' self-regulatory efforts and offers an analysis of history based on five periods. Particular attention is paid to the period from 1934, when the National Union of Journalists was founded, to nowadays. Research shows that the Portuguese journalists' self-regulation has been imposed or induced by the state. Despite this context, journalists achieved a real regulation of the profession, between the revolution of April 25th, 1974, and the 90s. The end of the Press Council accelerated a crisis in professional autonomy, which revealed to be very fragile, and paved the way for a strong comeback of state regulation in competition with self-regulation of journalists, in the 21st century.