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Journalists decry attack on Brazilian television station

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  • September 7, 2010

By Maira Magro

The National Federation of Journalists (FENAJ) and the Journalists Union of Amapá released a statement condemning the Sept. 3 attack on TV Marco Zero, affiliate of the Record network in Macapá, according to Amapá Digital.

Three men invaded the television station's building, assaulted employees, took a director hostage and set a room on fire, reported Folha Online.

According to Terra, the assailants shouted that the channel should stay out of politics. Journalist Gilvan Barbosa, presenter on the program Balanço Geral (General Balance), told Terra that he believes the show was the target of the attack because he has been receiving threats and warnings to not talk about politics.

The station released a statement saying that "freedom of the press is being curtailed by bullets," according to Terra. R7 said that the three owners of TV Marco Zero are contesting this year's elections.

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.