"The Coalition in Defense of Journalism (CDJor) expresses deep concern over decisions issued in Representation No. 0600488-32.2026.6.02.0000 by the Regional Electoral Court of Alagoas [a state in Brazil], which ordered the removal of an article titled 'Leaked messages point to offer of money to students to attend political event with Rep. Rafael Brito (MDB)' and a related post from Mídia Caeté’s Instagram page.
The report published information about messages in which the director of a state school in [the Brazilian municipality of] Arapiraca offered financial assistance to students to attend a public event with federal Rep. Rafael Brito. The outlet followed rigorous journalistic standards, presented the positions of all parties mentioned and included a statement from the director absolving the lawmaker of responsibility for the initiative. Despite this, the court found that the structure and prominence given to the headline constituted negative premature electioneering, on the grounds that it seriously took the information out of context, and ordered the report removed from the internet and the outlet fined.
Suppressing reports based on truthful facts and of clear public interest constitutes a serious violation of press freedom and has the potential to create a chilling effect on journalism."
Read the full statement (in Portuguese)
This story was translated with the assistance of AI and reviewed by Alejandro Martínez-Cabrera
