The city outskirts, or peripheries, comprise a third of the Brazilian population. Because these communities traditionally are ignored by mainstream media – except in matters where stereotypes dominate – a citizen journalism project created by the Brazilian journalist Bruno Garcez, 38 years old, is aimed at covering these neighborhoods in a more complete and accurate way. With a fellowship from the Knight Foundation, offered by the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ), Bruno took a year off from his position as a Washington correspondent for BBC Brasil to be able to train citizen journalists in the poor co
The National Archive of Brazil’s Revealed Memories project (Memórias Reveladas) – created to facilitate the release of dictatorship-era documents (1964-1985) – is now at the center of a debate between journalists and the authorities after its refusal to release documents during the election, O Globo reports. The document project justified its decision by claiming “journalists were misusing documents and seeking data about candidates involved in the electoral campaign.”
In an interview with Estado de S. Paulo newspaper, the founder of WikiLeaks, Julian Assange, says he has information about Brazil that could have “shaken the electoral pretensions of some people.” Assange refused to reveal that information and said he had been unable to publish it due to the recent release of such a large quantity of documents about Iraq.
Congress is considering reactivating the “Communication Council” to assist and advise lawmakers on matters related to communication, Folha de Sao Paulo reports. It would not serve as an official monitor but would hold a consultative role.
Civil police are investigating the break-in and theft of computer and printing equipment at the newspaper Correio Mariliense, in the city of Marilia, in the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo. The newspaper said the crime showed signs of being a political attack to disrupt the newspaper's operations, but according to O Globo, police are investigating the case as a common robbery.
Police arrested former military police officer Renato Demétrio de Souza, accusing him of the Oct. 30 shooting of José Rubem Pontes de Souza, the editor and president of Entre-Rios Jornal, in Três Rios, Rio de Janeiro. The suspect was recognized by two witnesses and arrested on Wednesday, Nov. 3. He has denied the charges.
Claiming that “journalists were misusing documents and seeking data about candidates involved in the electoral campaign,” the National Archive denied researchers access to files, during recent campaigns, about the dictatorship (1964-1985), O Globo reports.
In her acceptance speech in Brasília, President-elect Dilma Rousseff highlighted the role of the press and promised that her future government would guarantee freedom of expression.
Newspaper editor José Rubem Pontes de Souza, was shot to death early Saturday in front of a bar in Paraíba do Sul, in Rio de Janeiro state, O Globo newspaper reports. The other two Brazilian colleagues shot to death in 15 days are Wanderlei dos Reis in São Paulo state, and Francisco Gomes de Medeiros, whose killing in Rio Grande do Norte has been linked to his work as an investigative reporter.
In a contentious environment heading into the second round of presidential elections taking place Oct. 31, several media outlets have entered the battle.
The police have indicted journalist Amaury Ribeiro Júnior for violating the financial privacy of opposition candidate José Serra and are asking his former editor Josemar Gimenez to discuss the case, Terra reports.
The states of Ceará, São Paulo, Mato Grosso, Bahia, Piauí, and Alagoas are considering creating communications monitoring agencies, Folha de S. Paulo and O Globo report.