The traditional section of “Letters to the Editor” is the most common way for people to participate in the news process. It exists in every newspaper, sometimes enlarged to other small sections where the readers’ opinion (or the readers’ active participation, either with texts or with photos or videos) is requested.
The Internet and the development of these newspapers’ online editions have strongly expanded opportunities for public participation, with comments on the news, voting in day-by-day opinion pools, etc. The newspapers are open to these forms of participation and encourage them, but in a rather disorganized way: they usually do not promote real public discussions or debates, and they do not have regular contacts with the readers.
Some national radio stations (TSF, Antena Um) have daily forums open to the public, to discuss a given subject, according to the news of the day. But not all of them agree with this: the leading Radio Renascença is against forums in which “anyone can say anything”.
In public television and radio, there is an Opinion Council representing different areas and social groups.
