Episodes of press censorship in Latin America are at the highest levels since many countries began to return to democracy 30 years ago, writes Carlos Lauría, senior program coordinator for the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). Lauría’s analysis of censorship in the continent was part of the CPJ’s annual report titled Attacks on the Press 2010.
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.
Brazil's ex-president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva criticized the "opinion makers" for trying to create differences between his government and that of his successor, President Dilma Rousseff, reported Estado de S. Paulo. Lula made the remarks at an event commemorating 31 years of the Workers Party (PT) on Feb. 10.
Journalists from A Tarde, one of the most important newspapers in the northeastern state of Bahia, went on strike to protest the firing of reporter Aguirre Peixoto, UOL Notícias reports.
Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas founder Rosental Calmon Alves will be recognized for his academic and journalistic contributions at the Brazilian Investigative Journalism Association's (ABRAJI) sixth annual International Investigative Journalism Congress in July.
Folha de S. Paulo, O Estado de S. Paulo, and O Globo announced plans to start charging for their iPad apps, Macworld Brasil reports.
Two Brazilian journalists who were arrested in Egypt last week were deported back to Brazil over the weekend, Agência Estado reports. Rádio Nacional’s Corban Costa and TV Brasil's Gilvan Rocha traveled to Egypt to cover the political crisis, but Agência Brasil reports that they didn’t manage to produce any stories due to harassment by the authorities.
Members of the Brazilian media who traveled to Egypt to cover the protests for and against President Hosni Mubarak have suffered various types of harassment at the hands of the police, including hotel room raids, equipment confiscation, and deportation.
Journalist Maritânia Forlin has been formally indicted for her alleged role in trading police information for exclusives with drug traffickers, Terra reports. She was one of 25 individuals in Paraná state indicted for various crimes, including misrepresentation and criminal conspiracy, Gazeta do Povo explains.
Freelance reporter Solly Boussidan, who was arrested Jan. 28 for allegedly working without proper accreditation, was deported Feb. 1, O Globo reports. He was sent to the nearby country of Abkhazia.
After 20 days in prison, journalist Maritânia Forlin, suspected of working with drug dealers in Paraná state, was released by police pending her trial and announced that she would launch a book of memoirs to defend her image, Folha de S. Paulo reports.
Freelance journalist Solly Boussidan was arrested by Russian authorities Friday, Jan. 28, in the city of Sochi, accused of reporting without the necessary accreditation, reported the newspaper Estado de S. Paulo, the news outlet with with which he collaborates.