NewsMuseum in Sintra is a captivating day trip from Lisbon. Explore the world of news and journalism through interactive exhibits and engaging displays. Discover the power of media and its impact on society at this unique museum.
As a Media Age Experience, the NewsMuseum provides a unique window into the world of media and communication and their profound impact on society. Through its strong digital and technological components, the museum offers an immersive and interactive exploration of news-related topics. The content is available in both Portuguese and English, making it a truly bilingual project.
The museum's various thematic areas offer a diverse range of experiences. In the Lounge, one of the most iconic spaces, visitors can engage with a 360-degree view on a massive 67-square-meter touch screen, providing an innovative and futuristic video-watching experience. The War Journalism room, curated by renowned journalist José Rodrigues dos Santos, recreates the balcony where reporters covered the first night of the Gulf War. It highlights the close relationship between different media outlets and significant conflicts throughout contemporary world history.
In the Duel room, visitors can explore the media's portrayal of notable confrontations, such as the famous debate between Mário Soares and Álvaro Cunhal after the eventful "hot summer" of 1975. The Propaganda area delves into the work of iconic propagandists like António Ferro while examining critiques of this communication form. Visitors can even pin iconic political posters on the NewsMuseum's walls.
The Sports room showcases the media careers of legendary Portuguese athletes like Eusébio and Cristiano Ronaldo. Additionally, the exhibition "8 Best of: Melhores Momentos do Desporto" pays tribute to unforgettable sporting moments that left a mark on the Portuguese people, including Eder's goal in the 2016 Euro, Rosa Mota and Carlos Lopes' Olympic victories in 1988 and 1984, and Rui Costa's 2013 World Cycling Championship win.
The Radio area invites visitors to step into a radio booth and read the announcement of the Movimento das Forças Armadas (Armed Forces Movement) through a microphone, recreating the atmosphere of the early hours of April 25, 1974. The "Pirâmide de Babel," a metal tower featuring 69 televisions, allows visitors to watch news broadcasts from major global channels. Real-time news from national and international media outlets is projected on one of the walls.
With an interactive globe, visitors can explore the worldwide press freedom index. The museum also pays homage to prominent figures in Portuguese journalism through multimedia content, featuring testimonials from various professionals in the field. Additional rooms are dedicated to photojournalism, "bad news," marketing, public relations, and a collection of historical objects such as 1950s film cameras, professional turntables, telex machines, and replicas of news anchor clothing, provided by RTP, LUSA, and EFE.
The NewsMuseum extends its interactive experience to every corner, including the elevator. Within the elevator, visitors can hear speeches like the one made by the obot Sofia, announcing her nationality as Saudi Arabian. Illustrations and videos of Tintin and Clark Kent (Superman), the "most famous journalists on the planet," adorn a panel.
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The museum's educational services include a small auditorium and a space for live TV broadcasts, catering to schools and aiming to promote media literacy among young students. The visit also includes a small "lesson" with one of the curators, such as Manuel Falcão, José Rodrigues dos Santos, or Paula Cordeiro, covering topics like War Journalism, Social Media, Radio, the Future of Media, 9/11 Documentaries, Digital World: Wikileaks, the Berlin Wall, and the Press.
The NewsMuseum's commitment to knowledge dissemination extends to its Library, known as the Biblioteca NewsMuseum. With the backing of Chiado Editora, this initiative brings together books related to journalism, media, and communication. The library's collection includes the Novo Dicionário da Comunicação, which compiles terms from various generations of journalism and media, and Tinha tudo para correr mal, a book of professional memoirs by Luís Paixão Martins.
With its immersive exhibitions, interactivity, and engaging thematic areas, the NewsMuseum offers an unparalleled experience for visitors to explore the power of news and media. By examining the past, present, and future of journalism, the museum encourages critical thinking and media literacy while fostering a deeper understanding of the vital role of communication in society.
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