By Adriana Prado
Journalist Aguirre Peixoto, who was fired from his job in Bahia state after alleged pressure from the real estate industry, could be rehired by A Tarde newspaper, Bahia Notícias reports. However, the reporter may not be open to joining the paper again.
The announcement was made by A Tarde’s new editor, Ricardo Mendes, whose predecessor, Florisvaldo Matos, resigned over the outrage sparked by the journalist’s firing, the National Federation of Journalists explains. If Peixoto returns to the paper, he will have to serve a 30-day suspension for committing a “gross error” in the story that led to his firing. The journalist had reported on alleged environmental irregularities in the construction of a technology park in the state capital of Salvador.
Journalism group's criticized the paper, and Peixoto’s colleagues at A Tarde went on strike in protest last week. See comments from the journalist himself on his Twitter account, where he thanked his supporters for their "solidarity."
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.
