Joaquim Carreira, CEO of LUSA: How Europe’s News Agencies Are Reinventing Themselves in a Changing Environment
In this EANA Top Voices interview, Joaquim Carreira, the CEO of LUSA, the Portuguese national news agency, presents news agencies today as trusted hubs of fast, fact‑checked content, evolving from traditional wire services into multimedia partners that blend AI‑driven analytics, personalization, and robust fact‑checking to meet fragmented, active audiences. Facing geopolitical crises, electoral coverage, and the rise of big‑tech platforms, agencies like LUSA balance rapid delivery with rigorous verification, leveraging AI as a tool—not a replacement—to boost efficiency while safeguarding editorial integrity. Optimism stems from their pivotal role as guardians of credibility, reinforced by emerging regulations, cross‑border collaborations, and a steadfast commitment to trust‑based journalism.
Q: News agencies in Europe have navigated rapid changes over the past decade, from digital disruption to shifting audience habits. How would you describe the current role of news agencies in today’s media ecosystem, and where do you see this role heading in the next few years? What major shifts or evolutions do you anticipate for news agencies by the end of this decade?
A: News agencies today, more than ever, play a crucial role as trusted content providers and verification hubs in an increasingly fragmented media ecosystem. They remain essential for delivering fast, accurate, and fact-checked information to publishers, broadcasters, and digital platforms. Beyond traditional wire services, agencies have evolved into multimedia content partners, offering text, video, audio, and data packages tailored for online and social media environments. Their global reach and trustworthiness make them also indispensable for smaller outlets and for covering international events.
Looking ahead, their role will continue to shift toward technology-driven solutions with the purpose of reaching diverse intermediate and final users with trustable news, their needs in our minds .
In today’s information-rich world, users are no longer passive consumers of news—they are active participants who expect more than headlines. This new relationship is built on three dimensions: trust, personal relevance, and storytelling tailored to individual preferences. Trust is the foundation, as people seek credible, transparent, and ethical sources in an era of misinformation and algorithm-driven feeds. Relevance is essential: users want news that impacts their lives, communities, and values, balancing personalization with editorial integrity to avoid echo chambers. Finally, the way news is presented matters—some prefer quick summaries, others in-depth analysis or diverse formats in different platforms When these dimensions converge, news becomes more than information; it becomes a service that inspires confidence, creates connection, and fits lifestyles, while offering media organizations a roadmap to build loyalty in a competitive landscape.
Q: Europe’s news agencies have been tested by major geopolitical crises, notably the ongoing war in Ukraine since 2022. What has covering a conflict of this scale taught your agency about its responsibilities and challenges? How do you ensure accurate, impartial reporting in such high-stakes situations, and what measures are you taking to protect journalists on the ground and to combat misinformation or propaganda during conflict coverage?
Europe’s news agencies have faced unprecedented pressures covering the war in Ukraine, and Lusa, as Portugal’s national news agency, has drawn vital lessons regarding its responsibilities, operational challenges, and the critical importance of safeguarding editorial integrity in crisis environments.
Despite the fact that we haven't covered the conflict with permanent reporters, this situation has reinforced Lusa’s commitment to timely, accurate, and impartial news. The agency has learned that, in the context of large-scale and fast-evolving geopolitical crises, the demands on verification, situational awareness, and contextualization of facts are more intense than ever. There is a heightened responsibility to counteract misinformation, ensure clarity, and serve as a reliable source for media partners and the public.
Lusa enforces several core strategies to guarantee accuracy and impartiality:
Rigorous source cross-verification: Each piece of information, especially from conflict zones, is confirmed through multiple, credible sources before dissemination.
Clear editorial guidelines: All correspondents and editors adhere to strict editorial independence and standards to avoid bias or influence, both in coverage angles and choice of language.
Cooperation with trusted international agencies: Lusa works closely via the European Alliance of News Agencies (EANA) other consortia and trusted partners to access validated material and avoid dissemination of unverified claims.
For protecting journalists on the ground Lusa has reinforced and strengthened safety protocols for correspondents like security training ,risk assessment, evacuation plans, medical and psychological support during and after , increased health and accident insurance coverage.
To counteract misinformation and deliberate disinformation Lusa has expanded its fact-checking units, working both internally and in partnership with European fact-checking networks.
Q: AI and automation are increasingly being integrated into newsroom workflows, from generating news updates to aiding in research, translation, and content distribution. How is your agency strategically incorporating artificial intelligence into its editorial and operational processes? What benefits do you expect AI to bring to news production and delivery, and how are you addressing the potential risks or ethical challenges (for instance, maintaining accuracy, avoiding bias, and protecting your agency’s content) that come with AI adoption?
A: Agencies are becoming more data-oriented, using artificial intelligence for real-time analytics, personalization, and automated reporting. They are also positioning themselves as key players in combating misinformation through advanced fact-checking and credibility scoring.
Major transformations are expected but still blurred and with levels of uncertainty. AI integration will make automated content creation for routine stories standard practice. Subscription and licensing models may evolve to include direct-to-consumer offerings or niche B2B services. Technologies like blockchain could be adopted to certify authenticity and strengthen trust in news.
Finally, global collaboration among agencies. Smaller can be bigger and local can be global. As the challenges are bigger and bigger, agencies have to maintain relevance and deal with tech giants dominating content distribution. In short, news agencies will remain vital, but their success will depend on embracing innovation and reinforcing their role as guardians of credibility in a rapidly changing media landscape.
The purpose of Lusa is to deliver a public service of excellence fact based, trustworthiness, independency , non partisan. For this purpose all technological tools should always be a mean and not and end in itself.
At Lusa, our approach to AI integration is guided by a commitment to journalistic integrity, adaptability, and the promotion of media literacy. We see artificial intelligence not as a replacement for human judgment, but as a tool to enhance efficiency and resilience in a rapidly evolving news ecosystem. Trustable journalism will always be in the driver´s seat as per our AI conduct code.
Strategically, we are incorporating AI in areas such as automated news updates, multilingual translation, subtitles, text to speech and vice versa, image recognition, while maintaining human oversight in editorial decision-making. This allows our journalists to focus on deeper analysis and investigative work, fostering critical thinking rather than routine tasks.
The benefits we expect include faster workflows, improved accessibility through real-time translation, and personalized content delivery, which can help us reach diverse audiences without compromising quality. At the same time, we recognize the ethical challenges AI brings—such as ensuring accuracy, avoiding algorithmic bias, and protecting intellectual property. To address these, we have implemented editorial guidelines, transparency in AI-assisted processes, and continuous training for our teams to strengthen digital literacy and adaptability.
Q: Recent political events like the 2024 European Parliament elections have highlighted the role of news agencies in supporting democracy. How do you approach coverage of major democratic events such as European or national elections in a way that informs the public objectively and comprehensively? What responsibilities do news agencies have in countering misinformation, political polarization, or voter apathy during election cycles, and how do you balance speed with accuracy when reporting on election outcomes and controversies?
A: Lusa has always regarded election coverage as a fundamental expression of its public mission — to provide accurate, independent, and comprehensive information that strengthens democratic participation. In the context of European and national elections, this responsibility is translated into extended coverage from our journalists ( text, image, video) pre and after elections rigorous newsroom procedures, continuous journalist training, close coordination with trusted partners across Europe and distribution to clients and public via our B2B channels ( FTP, mail, site) and social media ( Facebook, X, Instagram, Bluesky ,YouTube)
In order to reinforce European values for younger generation of journalists in Portugal, Lusa with the European Parliament are helding at Lusa’s headquarters in Lisbon Lusa’s main training “Aprender a Contar a Europa / Learning to Tell the Story of Europe” programme, plus a second module in Brussels or Strasbourg. It targets early‑career journalists and focuses on improving coverage of EU institutions, policies and European democracy. This is a short, intensive course (usually three days) at Lusa’s newsroom in Lisbon, with several sessions in lecture, conference and round‑table format. This is run nationally by Lusa for about 15 young journalists selected through an open call. The main objectives are deepen understanding of how the European Union and the European Parliament work, and of current European challenges, strengthen skills to report European topics clearly and accurately to the public (“learning to tell the story of Europe”). This programme has two modules : the first module in Lisbon with multiple thematic and practical sessions led by academics, EU officials, members of European Parliament and senior journalists.The other module for a smaller group selected from the first, held at the European Parliament (Brussels or Strasbourg), including briefings, meetings with MEPs and on‑site reporting exercises.
Other important aspect in this context is our participation in European consortia (ENR2.0) and collaborative fact-checking initiatives reinforces this commitment. Through shared standards, cross-border editorial cooperation we help ensure that verified, contextualized information circulates quickly and transparently — supporting citizens’ capacity to make informed choices.
Lusa’s editorial teams receive specific training on responsible election reporting, data verification, and coverage of political debates, always prioritizing accuracy over speed when election results or controversies arise. We are fully aligned with European democratic values: independence, pluralism, transparency, and social responsibility. In an era of misinformation and polarization, these values guide our daily work and reaffirm our role as a trusted source in the information ecosystem.
Q: The relationship between news agencies and big tech platforms is evolving amid new regulatory frameworks in Europe. With initiatives such as the EU’s Digital Services Act and other platform regulations, how do you see the interaction between news providers and digital platforms changing? Are these regulations and the push for platforms to take more responsibility (or even remunerate content creators) an opportunity for news agencies, or do they introduce new challenges? How is your agency navigating issues like content distribution on social media, algorithmic reach, and negotiating fair terms for the use of your news content online?
A: As Europe’s news agencies face challenges from financial pressures, technological disruption, and geopolitical events, optimism about their future is rooted in their unique role as trusted providers of verified, independent news—a public good increasingly valued by society. Despite pressures, including from Big Tech, news agencies continue to innovate and collaborate across borders, strengthening their relevance as democratic pillars.
Big Tech’s dominance in digital advertising and content distribution poses a significant challenge. Many platforms have deprioritized news content in favor of algorithm-driven formats that increase user engagement but reduce referral traffic to traditional news sources. However, Europe has responded with regulatory frameworks like the Digital Services Act and copyright directives aimed at rebalancing power: compelling Big Tech to pay news outlets for content use and increasing transparency around algorithm changes. These initiatives create opportunities for more sustainable partnerships and financial support to maintain quality journalism.
The strategic approach between Big Tech and news agencies is increasingly characterized by a mix of competion and regulation. Agencies leverage legal frameworks to secure licensing fees and protect editorial independence while exploring collaborative innovation in digital formats and technology. This relationship is complex—Big Tech platforms remain essential for reach but must be engaged critically to ensure they support, rather than undermine, the news ecosystem’s sustainability and societal role.
Q: Finally, as a leader in the news agency world, what gives you optimism about the future of news agencies in Europe? Despite all the challenges we’ve discussed — from financial hurdles to technological disruption and geopolitical events — what inspires confidence that news agencies will continue to thrive and serve the public good in the coming years? Feel free to share any guiding vision or principle that you believe will keep news agencies relevant and essential in the evolving media landscape.
A: A guiding vision for news agencies is to act as a resilient public service backbone of trustworthy information, committed to independence, innovation in service of democratic needs, and strategic collaboration between agencies and partnerships with Big Tech under fair, regulated conditions. This balance underpins confidence that European news agencies will continue to thrive and serve the public good amid evolving media landscapes.
Let’s return to the most fundamental value of a news agency: trust.
Today’s media landscape faces serious challenges — from the rise of disinformation, now amplified by new waves of technology, to the pressure to prioritize speed over accuracy, and the economic sustainability of quality journalism. Yet above all, we must maintain the trust in our news, in our professionals, and in our agency’s role in contributing to a healthy media environment and a stronger society. The value that has built our credibility must be preserved and strengthened, for trust remains the cornerstone of all we do.
