The company is evaluating possible adjustments in the daily distribution of newspapers in eight districts in the interior of Portugal (Beja, Évora, Portalegre, Castelo Branco, Guarda, Viseu, Vila Real and Bragança) due to financial difficulties caused by the drop in press sales and increased operating costs.
The Vasp administration reported this Thursday that it is evaluating the need to make adjustments to the daily distribution of newspapers in the districts of Beja, Évora, Portalegre, Castelo Branco, Guarda, Viseu, Vila Real and Bragança.
In a statement, Vasp states that “it is currently going through a particularly demanding financial situationresulting from the continued decline in press sales and the significant increase in operating costs, which put the sustainability of current daily press distribution coverage under severe pressure”.
This situation “has direct impact on the viability of daily press distribution at points of saleespecially in the interior regions of the country, forcing the company to reevaluate its operational and logistical model”, says Vasp – Distribution and Logistics, on the day that Correio da Manhã reports that there is “eight districts at risk of running out of newspapers from January onwards“.
The company “unequivocally reaffirms its commitment to universal access to information, understanding it as an essential pillar of territorial cohesion, equal opportunities and the full exercise of democratic citizenship”, adding that “the Restricting this access unfairly penalizes populations in low-density territories and deepens regional asymmetries“.
Despite this commitment, “and maintaining full respect for the agreements entered into with publishers and points of sale, the company is obliged to study a review of the current configuration of some distribution routes, in order to safeguard the global continuity of the operation and avoid a scenario of financial unsustainability that would put the entire press distribution activity in Portugal at risk“.
In view of this, “and in the absence of solutions that ensure the full maintenance of the service in its current form, Vasp informs that it is evaluating the need for make adjustments to certain routesnamely in the following districts: Beja, Évora, Portalegre, Castelo Branco, Guarda, Viseu, Vila Real and Bragança”.
Vasp emphasizes that “no definitive decision has yet been taken, and this evaluation is ongoing with the aim of finding alternatives that minimize the impact on publishers, points of sale and populations” and expresses “total availability to continue constructive dialogue with editors, public entities and other institutional partners” to find solutions that “allow the Portuguese population to preserve access to the press and avoid an unprecedented scenario in democracy”.
Lusa contacted one of Vasp’s administrators, but so far it has not been possible to obtain a comment on the matter.
