To our readers and our collaborators

Over the past three years, we've had the honor of being shareholders and directors of the company that owns Jornal SOL, and it's been our responsibility to manage it and prepare its future. The social good that comes from its existence will always be immensely greater than its value or economic impact.

Over these past three years, SOL has remained faithful to the principles of our Architect José António Saraiva, whom we will always miss dearly, but who, even without his accurate and incisive chronicles, lives on in every page of Sol forever.

Free, democratic, and independent. Portuguese, European, and Atlanticist. Responsible and with values under the leadership of Mário Ramires, and with the selfless and unparalleled dedication of our editorial and technical teams, we are immensely proud of each edition of Jornal SOL. They have been and will always be an example of the best journalism produced in Portugal.

Our recognition also goes to Nuno Tiago Pinto and Vítor Rainho for keeping that same spirit alive.

We left a restructured newspaper, with liabilities reduced by more than 50%. Today, there's not a single euro of outstanding debt to the government, not a single salary or benefit in arrears, and not a single supplier unpaid.

In particular, to you, reading these words in a pirated PDF received in a WhatsApp or Telegram group. Let us ask you: could you really not afford the price of the newspaper? If you enjoy reading SOL or others, why not pay for it? When you go to a restaurant or hotel, it doesn't occur to you to avoid paying the bill. It's an effort for everyone, but it's worth it, think about it.

Another thought for those who, in associations, forums, or roundtables, constitute the backbone of the country's civil society: If the press isn't supported by investing in advertising, who will?

A third thought for you, who are responsible for educating the next generation, whose students don't know what it's like to pick up a newspaper or a physical book: remember that cognitive and emotional development is compromised without these learning tools and contact with the surrounding reality. It's your responsibility to educate them about reading—the only antidote to the dopaminergic pandemic of screens and social media.

As we conclude our media investment in Portugal and SOL is welcomed into the Media Capital Group, where it will receive the attention it deserves, we want to say a few words to you, our reader. To the thousands of people who buy SOL every week. To you, who have always been there, we have just one word: Thank you.

José Saldanha Bento Luis Santos Pedro Vargas David