The association should continue to “raise awareness among the Government” to facilitate the hiring of professionals from abroad, “particularly from the Portuguese-speaking world,” Gilberto Lopes told PLATFORM. The goal, he says, is for these journalists to “contribute to strengthening Macau and China’s connection with Portuguese-speaking Countries.”
The candidate believes that preserving the conditions necessary for the profession to be practiced is essential. “The challenges facing journalists today are maintaining all the professional conditions that allow them to practice journalism in Macau. I would say that the challenges are the same as yesterday’s and will be tomorrow’s,” he said.
In his view, journalism remains crucial to the region’s international positioning. “AIPIM hopes that journalists will continue to fully perform their duties, as the practice of this profession is fundamental to building a modern, open, and international city.”
Training and Access to Information
Professional training is one of the main priorities of the candidacy, amid a period of rapid technological transformation. “In an era of rapid, almost dizzying technological transformation resulting from digitalization and the rise of artificial intelligence, professional training will play a central role in our activities,” he said.
The slate also proposes organizing seminars and lectures on “major issues related to the city’s and the region’s socioeconomic development dynamics, including the Greater Bay Area,” as well as creating annual journalism awards to recognize the work carried out by Portuguese- and English-language media outlets.
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Regarding relations with authorities, Gilberto Lopes advocates “transparent, permanent, ethical, and institutional dialogue” and believes there should be “a fluid and open relationship between the Government and media organizations,” allowing citizens to access public policies through journalists’ work.
“Access to information is — and will always be — one of the objectives that AIPIM will defend as applicable in Macau in all areas,” he said, adding that it is necessary to create “functional channels between journalists and political officials,” where “speed and clarity in this relationship are essential.”
The candidate concluded by expressing his recognition “to all the colleagues who, since AIPIM’s creation, have served on its governing bodies.”
Founded in 2005, AIPIM currently has around 80 members. The slate led by Gilberto Lopes includes professionals with extensive experience in journalism in Macau, including José Carlos Matias and Paulo Rego, who are running as vice presidents of the board, and Ricardo Pinto, who is running as president of the General Assembly. The slate also highlights the participation of journalists Maria Cheang, Ivy Lei, Margarida Vidinha, and Linzy Valles in the association’s governing bodies.
AIPIM’s Ordinary Electoral General Assembly is scheduled for tomorrow, July 18, at 3 p.m. at Casa Garden, the headquarters of the Oriente Foundation, where members will vote for the new governing bodies for the 2026–2028 term.
