Paper short abstract:

Being a part f a collective research, the present paper approaches the newspaper A Província in its Angolan phase.

Paper long abstract:

The present paper is part of a collective research viewing a comparative approach of Portuguese colonial press. Focusing the thematic of democratic thought, in its political and cultural dimensions, we use as case study the Portuguese journalist, Francisco Pereira Batalha. The spaces of his public intervention are directly linked with his career as a civil servant in Lisbon, Luanda and Pangim.

The newspaper A Província, founded in 1914 in Luanda (Angola), is an interesting title which will travel with the author to another Portuguese colony (Goa). In Luanda, the newspaper presents itself with a significant quality, using photos and being supported by a considerable number of advertising. The articles are related to internal affairs and politics, ethnography, international affairs and economy. Ideas like autonomy, self-government, decentralization and republicanism are the most discussed items.

Another important aspect is Francisco Pereira Batalha's choice for his editors. Augusto Archer da Silva Wilson and then Marcolino António Joaquim were important journalists involved in previous newspaper projects. Both newspapers were important ones, also defending autonomy, democratic principles and republicanism, with major implications in the relations between the colonial and native elite. This means Pereira Batalha was concerned about developing a professional journalism based on the defense of the republican and democratic values.

In the 20's of the 20th century, Pereira Batalha will go on with the project, now in Goa, always focusing the same issues: autonomy, principles of democratization and decentralization and republicanism.