Where to get the news in Portugal

Staying informed about what is happening in Portugal is essential for expats. While most news sources are in Portuguese, several English-language options cater to the international community.

From newspapers and TV stations to online platforms and social media, Portugal offers diverse ways to access news. This guide covers where to get reliable news in Portugal, whether you prefer reading in English or Portuguese.

Quick Answer: Where to Get News in Portugal

For English speakers, The Portugal News and Portugal Resident are the main print newspapers. Online, check Portugal Pulse, Algarve Daily News, and Lusa News for English coverage. Portuguese speakers can access major newspapers like Público, Expresso, and Correio da Manhã, plus TV channels like RTP and SIC Notícias.

English-Language News Sources in Portugal

English Newspapers

Portugal has two main English-language newspapers available in print:

• The Portugal News - Established in 1977, Portugal's longest-running English newspaper reaches 400,000 readers weekly. Published every Friday in print and online, with content available in 20 languages on their website.
• Portugal Resident - Founded in 1989, this tabloid targets English speakers in the Algarve but is available nationwide. Part of Open Media Group, which publishes Essential Algarve and Essential Madeira magazines. Covers sports, business, lifestyle, and real estate.

International newspapers like The Guardian, The International New York Times, and Financial Times are available at airports and large newsagents in major cities and tourist areas.

English TV and Radio

Portuguese news channels rarely broadcast in English, but many TV packages include international channels like BBC World News, CNN, and Euronews.

Kiss FM, established in 1992, is Portugal's only English-language radio station, primarily serving the Algarve expat community. You can also access international news stations online through services like radio.net.

English News Websites

Several online platforms provide English news about Portugal:

• Portugal Pulse - Provides news and cultural insights based on local sources, with regional sections for Lisbon, Porto, the Algarve, Madeira, and the Azores. Covers current events and real estate.
• Algarve Daily News - Focuses on events in the Algarve region, plus real estate and world affairs.
• Euronews Portugal - Portuguese section of Euronews offers updates about Portugal in English.
• Lusa News - English section of Portuguese news agency Agência Lusa.

Portuguese-Language News Sources

National Newspapers

Portugal has over a dozen national newspapers. According to APTC (the official circulation tracking body), the most widely read are:

• Correio da Manhã - Daily tabloid with 36,396 physical copies sold in Q4 2023. Known for attention-grabbing headlines and scandal coverage.
• Expresso - Weekly newspaper with 37,868 print copies and 49,817 online subscriptions in Q4 2023. Respected for in-depth reporting.
• Jornal de Notícias - Founded in Porto in 1888, one of Portugal's oldest newspapers with 18,132 printed copies circulated in Q4 2023.
• Público - Lisbon-based daily tabloid, one of the first mainstream papers with an online edition. Now has over 48,000 copies in circulation.

Regional Newspapers

Regional newspapers focus on local events:

• Açoriano Oriental - Portugal's oldest newspaper (founded 1835), covering the Azores
• Diário do Alentejo - Covers Portugal's largest region
• Diário de Aveiro - Focuses on Aveiro and surroundings
• Diário de Coimbra - Covers the Coimbra region
• Diário de Notícias da Madeira - Serves the Madeira archipelago
• Jornal do Algarve - Covers southern Algarve region
• O Minho - Based around Braga

Magazines

Popular Portuguese magazines include:

• Notícias Magazine - Weekly supplement with Sunday's Jornal de Notícias, covering lifestyle and culture
• Sábado - Weekly magazine focusing on investigative journalism, politics, science, and entertainment
• Selecções - Portuguese Reader's Digest, published monthly
• Time Out - Monthly magazine covering cultural events, restaurants, and activities. Time Out Lisboa focuses on the capital
• Visão - Weekly news magazine covering current events, society, culture, and lifestyle

Specialist Publications

• Cars: Carros & Motores, Turbo
• Economy: Exame
• Food & Wine: Continente Magazine, Revista de Vinhos
• Lifestyle: Maria, Caras, Nova Gente, Activa
• History & Science: National Geographic Portugal
• Music: Blitz
• Sports: Record, O Jogo, A Bola
• Travel: Volta ao Mundo

TV and Radio News

National TV News Channels

• RTP (Rádio e Televisão de Portugal) - Portugal's only public broadcaster operates several channels including RTP Madeira, RTP Açores, RTP África, and RTP Internacional. RTP3 provides 24-hour news coverage.
• CNN Portugal - Launched November 2021 (previously TVI24). Features news segments, interviews, and reports.
• SIC (Sociedade Independente de Comunicação) - Private network with two daily news segments. SIC Notícias provides continuous coverage.
• TVI (Televisão Independente) - Entertainment-focused channel with news broadcasts around 13:00 and 20:00.
• Correio da Manhã TV - Associated with Correio da Manhã newspaper, often considered sensationalist.
• Canal Parlamento (ARTV) - Legislative television broadcasting events from Portuguese Assembly.

Radio News

RTP owns public radio stations Antena 1, Antena 2, and Antena 3, all covering current affairs, culture, and sports.

Private stations with news segments:

• Rádio Comercial
• Rádio Renascença
• Rádio Observador
• RFM
• TSF

Specialist Channels

• Sport TV - Sports news
• Golo FM - Soccer-focused
• Canal180 - Cultural topics

Online News Platforms

Over 70% of Portuguese residents get their news online. Digital subscriptions are led by:

• Expresso - 47,450 digital subscribers
• Público - 46,560 digital subscribers
• Correio da Manhã - 23,932 digital subscribers

Popular online-only news platforms:

• SIC Notícias
• Notícias ao Minuto
• Sapo 24
• CNN Portugal
• Observador
• TVI Notícias

Most articles are free, though some require monthly subscriptions. Only 11% of Portuguese consumers pay for digital news, one of Europe's lowest rates.

Social Media News

More than 95% of Portuguese people use social media daily. In 2023, 50% got their news from social media platforms, though 37.1% reported finding disinformation several times per day.

Most popular platforms for news:

• Facebook (40%)
• WhatsApp (24%)
• YouTube (23%)
• Instagram (growing)
• TikTok (growing)

Alternative and Independent Media

Alternative media represents a small but growing portion of Portuguese journalism. Popular independent outlets include:

• Divergente - Investigative journalism publication by Bagabaga Studios cooperative, focusing on narrative formats
• Fumaça - Started as 2016 podcast, now full media outlet owned by non-profit Verdes Memórias. Focuses on social progress and human rights, funded by grants and donations
• Gerador - Magazine and online platform covering cultural education
• Jornal Mapa - Quarterly magazine stimulating debate and world understanding
• Shifter - Digital and physical magazine discussing technology, society, and culture

The platform Media Alternativos (created by journalist Mário Rui André in 2020) highlights alternative media projects in Portugal.

Satirical News

• Inimigo Público - Portugal's only surviving printed satirical news supplement (purchased by Expresso in 2021)
• Imprensa Falsa - Popular satirical website

Avoiding Fake News and Misinformation

According to Reuters' 2023 Digital News Report, 58% of Portuguese people trust their news sources. Most brands are well-trusted, except Correio da Manhã, often considered sensationalist.

Fake news primarily spreads through social media. Pages called out for spreading disinformation include Bombeiros 24 and Notícias Viriato.

Fact-Checking Resources

• Polígrafo - National fact-checking project analyzing statements by key figures. Updated daily online and broadcast weekly on SIC
• A Prova dos Factos - Público's fact-checking feature
• Observador Fact Check - Partnered with TVI for program A Hora da Verdade
• Ground News - News aggregator comparing reporting across sources with bias ratings
• Media Bias/Fact Check - Assesses accuracy, bias, and reliability of news sources

Tips for Reliable News

• Read news from multiple outlets for balanced perspective
• Be cautious of information shared only on social media without credible sources
• Choose sources with consistent, accurate reporting, avoiding sensationalism
• Check IBERIFIER and European Digital Media Observatory (EDMO) for reports on disinformation
• Verify claims through fact-checking services like Polígrafo

Portugal's Media Landscape: History and Freedom

Portugal experienced media censorship between 1926 and 1974 under dictatorship. Editors used a "blue pencil" (lápis azul) to cross out unacceptable content. The 1974 Carnation Revolution ended the government and gradually eliminated censorship.

Today, Portugal ranks in the top 10 of the 2024 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders, demonstrating strong journalistic freedom.

The Portuguese Regulatory Authority for the Media (Entidade Reguladora para a Comunicação Social, ERC) regulates news sources following the Portuguese Constitution.

Agência Lusa is Portugal's largest news agency, half state-run and half owned by private media shareholders.

Related Topics for Expats in Portugal

Looking for more information about living in Portugal? Visit the Expats List homepage for comprehensive guides, or check out the blogs section for more expat experiences and advice.

If you run a business serving expats in Portugal, consider listing it on our platform: Add Your Business.

Useful Resources

• Capas Jornais - Overview of front pages of Portuguese newspapers and magazines
• Entidade Reguladora para a Comunicação Social (ERC) - Portuguese media regulatory authority
• European Digital Media Observatory - EU-funded project analyzing disinformation and media literacy
• IBERIFIER - Digital media observatory assessing misinformation in Portuguese and Spanish media
• Media Bias/Fact Check - Portugal government and media profile
• Polígrafo - Fact-checking project scrutinizing Portuguese news protagonists

For more resources on expat life, visit our expat community blog or explore trusted services and businesses for expats.