The Government of the Azores will move forward this week with a program of regional newspaper subscriptions for schools and social institutions, along with institutional advertising packages to support the media, it was announced today.

“This very month we will implement the newspaper subscription program, meaning that the region will ensure all schools and social institutions receive every newspaper from the region,” said the Regional Secretary for Parliamentary Affairs and Communities (PSD/CDS-PP/PPM).

Paulo Estêvão was speaking to journalists at Antero de Quental Secondary School in Ponta Delgada, where he presented to students the national government’s campaign to offer free digital newspaper subscriptions to young people.

On that occasion, the regional secretary, who oversees media affairs, added that the Azores will also move forward this week with its own subscription program for schools and Private Institutions of Social Solidarity (IPSS), a measure included in the Action Plan for Azorean Media.

“We will have thousands of subscriptions, to be paid for by the Regional Government, which will reach all our schools and social institutions,” he emphasized.

This week will also see the launch of a “major institutional advertising campaign” on Azorean radio stations and newspapers to “raise public awareness about consuming regional information,” the official added.

“This institutional advertising, which begins this week, is, I believe, a breath of fresh air and oxygen for our media outlets. It is a very significant effort we are undertaking,” he declared.

Paulo Estêvão also admitted to being “very concerned” about the possible closure of regional newspapers, such as Baluarte de Santa Maria or Jornal do Pico, recalling the “very significant increase” in financial support for private newspapers.

“In total, we will close the year with around two million euros invested in the sector,” he said, expressing hope that these new measures will prevent the closure of those publications being launched this week.

The regional secretary also recalled the training programs for journalists sponsored by the Regional Government and assured that payments to media outlets “are all up to date.”

“All the invoices I received have been paid. All of them. It cannot be said that the government takes too long to pay,” he stated.

The 2025 Regional Investment Plan allocates 2 million euros to the Media Support Program.

From Açores9–Paulo Melo-director