A Legacy in Journalism
José António Saraiva, former director of the weekly Expresso and founder of Sol, passed away on Thursday in Lisbon at the age of 77. Known for his innovative approach, he famously proposed selling Expresso in a plastic bag, a practice that started in 1992 and continued until 2018 when it was changed to paper.
Controversial Revelations
Saraiva authored the book Eu e os Políticos, which stirred significant controversy. Criticized for its revelations about the private lives of political figures, it led to former Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho distancing himself from its launch. Media dubbed it “Saraivaleaks”, highlighting its intimate disclosures about sexual orientation and political intrigue. In 2020, he was found guilty of violating privacy laws related to the content of this book.
Career Highlights
Despite being an architect by training, Saraiva led Expresso for 22 years from 1983 to 2005. He began his journalism career at the age of 17 and contributed to various publications including Diário de Lisboa and A Bola. His rise to directorship at Expresso was marked by internal opposition, but he eventually succeeded in establishing a prominent voice in Portuguese journalism.
Founding Sol
In 2006, he co-founded the weekly Sol, where he recently published his last column. His influence on the landscape of Portuguese media remains significant, despite his own assertion that he never felt like a true journalist.
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