On April 27, 2026, a group of students from the Catholic University of Braga took part in a field trip to the Portuguese Parliament and the Medialivre Group studios, as part of an initiative designed to give students a firsthand look at the practical aspects of political communication and journalism.

In the morning, the students visited the São Bento Palace, the seat of the Assembly of the Republic. The event was attended by students from the Political Communication course in the Bachelor’s program in Communication Sciences, students from the Master’s program in Digital Communication, members of Rádio Sintoniza*te, and members of the institution’s Communication and Marketing Office.

The visit provided an in-depth understanding of how the legislative branch operates, as well as the building’s historical and symbolic significance. Among the areas visited, the chamber—where parliamentary debates take place—stood out. The students also had the opportunity to revisit pivotal moments in the history of the Portuguese Republic and to observe, firsthand, how democratic institutions function.

In the afternoon, the group was welcomed by the Medialivre Group, where they gained firsthand insight into the day-to-day workings of journalism and the media. The visit was accompanied by Professor Manuel Antunes da Cunha and led by former student and current journalist José Pedro Fernandes of the NOW channel, who shared his professional journey and explained how a newsroom operates.

The program also featured appearances by journalist Francisco Penim and host Luciana Abreu, who shared their professional experiences in order to offer different perspectives on working in television and the contemporary challenges facing the communications sector.

One of the highlights of the visit was a student’s appearance on CMRádio’s “Regresso a Casa” program, hosted by Luciana Abreu and Alberto Rocha, which provided hands-on experience in a real-world broadcasting setting.

The initiative stood out for its strong link between the academic world and the professional sphere, which fostered direct contact with various fields of communication and, in this way, contributed to a more concrete, critical, and practical understanding of the sector’s dynamics.