By Isabela Fraga
The Brazilian Association of Investigative Journalism (Abraji in Portuguese) will begin on Thursday, July 12, its 7th International Conference on Investigative Journalism in the city of Sao Paulo. The conference continues through Saturday, July 14, and includes roundtables, panels, and workshops about such topics as online journalism, mega-sporting events, and elections.
Since 2005, the conference annually gathers the most important experts of Brazilian and international journalism. The main idea of the event is to promote sharing of experiences between professionals, students, professors, and other journalists. This year's program includes more than 80 activities, such as practical workshops about software use for editing reports, as well as panels about investigating private companies and evaluating the implementation of the new freedom of information law in Brazil.
At the University Anhembi Morumbi, where the conference will take place, experts such as David Carr from The New York Times and João Paulo Charleaux from the organization Conectas Direitos Humanos will talk about the protection of journalists in areas of armed conflict, and Brant Houston, president of the Investigative News Network, will participate in a roundtable about investigative journalism.
This year's conference also will honor journalists Tim Lopes and Janio de Freitas. Lopes, famous for his investigative TV reports, was killed in a favela of Río de Janeiro, while investigating a child prostitution case. Jánio de Freitas, who is 80 years old, works as a columnist for the newspaper Folha de S. Paulo and won many awards -among them, the Premio Esso, one of the most important awards in Brazil.
The end of the conference will present a special session about digital journalism led by Rosental Calmon Alves, founder and director of the Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas and holder of the Knight Chair in Journalism and UNESCO Chair in Communication at the University of Texas at Austin.
Online registration is closed, however, those interested may register in person at the event.
7º International Conference for Investigative Journalism
When: July 12 - 14, 2012
Where: Sao Paulo. Universidad Anhembi Morumbi - campus Vila Olímpia - unidade 7 (Rua Casa do Ator, 275).
Note from the editor: This story was originally published by the Knight Center’s blog Journalism in the Americas, the predecessor of LatAm Journalism Review.
