EBC promotes diversity and social participation with new committee in Brazil.

The Empresa Brasil de Comunicação (EBC) has taken a significant step in its mission to promote social participation and diversity in its programming and communication processes. In the context of the Gramado Film Festival, EBC awarded prizes to films from Rio Grande do Sul, a gesture that not only celebrates local cultural production but also reflects the new direction the company seeks to take under the presidency of Jean Lima. The award ceremony is part of a broader context of reorganization and the establishment of mechanisms for social participation, as Lima points out. The president of EBC emphasized that this initiative is the result of a consolidation process involving three fundamental steps: the separation of public communication from governmental communication, the expansion of the National Public Communication Network (RNCP), and finally, the creation of the Committee for Social Participation, Diversity, and Inclusion (CPADI). According to Lima, "there is no public communication without social participation," highlighting the importance of integrating diverse voices into EBC's communication structure. This committee, established under Portaria 461, will include representatives from civil society, as well as members of the Editorial and Programming Committee and the RNCP. In total, the CPADI will have 27 members, at least 40% of whom will be women, representatives of Afro-descendant, indigenous, and LGBTQIA+ communities, as well as people with disabilities. This structure aims to ensure that the various social realities of the country are adequately represented and heard in public programming. Rita Freire, the rapporteur of the Working Group on Public Communication and Social Participation, emphasized the need for genuine dialogue between EBC and civil society for the new committee to effectively achieve its goals. Freire stressed that the establishment of the CPADI must be accompanied by a real commitment from EBC to listen to and act on the demands and concerns of citizens. The implementation of these adjustments will be crucial for fostering a climate of trust and collaboration. Fernando Paulino, a professor at the School of Communication at the University of Brasilia, sees the CPADI as an opportunity to bring society closer to access to information. He hopes that EBC will consider the recommendations from the working group's report and take concrete steps to promote citizen participation in defending the right to communication. Paulino argues that this approach will not only strengthen democracy but also improve the quality of public media programming. EBC has also appointed leaders for the Special Advisory on Social Participation and Diversity and the Ombudsman, thus highlighting its commitment to these principles. Eloisa Galdino, a communication expert with extensive experience in public management, will head the Special Advisory, while Luiza Seixas, a journalist with 18 years of experience, will lead the Ombudsman. These appointments indicate that EBC is taking seriously the incorporation of diverse voices and the promotion of inclusion within its structure. The creation of the CPADI is not just a structural change; it represents a new approach to public communication in Brazil. Under Lima's leadership, EBC aims to transform its image and function, moving away from practices that limited citizen participation. This change is viewed as a return to the roots of public communication, where the voice of society plays a central role. The new committee will meet every three months, with the possibility of extraordinary convocations. This frequency of meetings will allow for ongoing discussions about EBC's communication policies and practices, ensuring a constant flow of exchange between committee members and the company's administration. With the establishment of the CPADI, EBC is marking a milestone in the recent history of public communication in Brazil. The inclusion of diverse perspectives in decision-making could transform the way information is produced and presented, promoting a more democratic and representative environment. As this process progresses, it will be essential to monitor its implementation and the effectiveness of the measures adopted, ensuring that social participation translates into concrete and meaningful actions. The award ceremony at the Gramado Film Festival is, therefore, more than just a cultural event; it symbolizes the beginning of a renewed effort by EBC to strengthen the relationship between public communication and civil society, making the principle that social participation is fundamental to genuinely public and effective communication a reality.