Brazil / Americas

After British climate journalist Dom Phillips was found dead in Amazonas’ state Javary Valley region on June 15, 2022, his widow, Alessandra Sampaio, set out to finish his most important work, compiled in the new book “How to Save the Amazon.” Now she is helping prepare a new generation of Indigenous leaders to continue their fight to defend the…

The Coalition in Defense of Journalism (CDJor), which the Committee to Protect Journalists is a member, strongly condemns the 2019-2022 Bolsonaro administration’s use of the Brazilian Intelligence Agency to surveil journalists, media outlets, and civil society organizations. Details on the depth of administration’s surveillance of journalists came to light after Brazil’s Federal Supreme Court unsealed…

The Committee to Protect Journalists joined other 49 civil society organizations and journalists in a manifesto organized by the Javari Valley Indigenous People Union (UNIVAJA) to remember the third anniversary of British journalist Dom Phillips and Indigenous expert Bruno Pereira killings on June 5, 2022, in the Brazilian state of Amazonas. Issued on World Environment…

São Paulo, March 20, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Brazilian authorities to swiftly and comprehensively investigate the leaking of UOL news journalist Thiago Herdy’s personal information and photos online following his investigative series on alleged emergency works contract irregularities in the municipality of São Paulo. “It is clear that posting details of Thiago Herdy’s private life on…

Gender bias attacks escalate online for female journalists São Paulo, December 12, 2024—Female journalists experienced the majority of online and offline attacks against the press during the 2024 Brazilian municipal elections, found a report published today by the Coalition in Defense of Journalism (CDJor), a coalition of civil society organizations working to protect press freedom…

Twenty-four civil society organizations working in seven Latin American countries, including the Committee to Protect Journalists, released a November 2024 report titled “Impact of state censorship measures on the right to freedom of expression in the Americas,” which included information provided during the 190th regular session of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) in July 2024.  The press freedom groups work in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador,…

The Committee to Protect Journalists joined the 10 other members of Brazil’s Coalition in Defense of Journalism in condemning the August 12 sentencing of journalist Ricardo Antunes to seven years in prison for slander, libel, and defamation after he published five blog posts about a businessman. The posts dealt with an investigation into an alleged…

São Paulo, May 24, 2024—A decision by Brazil’s top court to recognize the judicial harassment of journalists and to introduce procedures to help prevent courts being misused to intimidate and silence the media is a welcome move towards safeguarding press freedom, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On May 22, the Supreme Court unanimously…

UPDATE:  On May 21, the Brazilian Superior Court of Justice (STJ) denied a habeas corpus request made by the defense of Maurício Borges Sampaio, one of the defendants, and upheld the conviction of four of the men accused of murdering journalist Valério Luiz de Oliveira. Figuerêdo and Sampaio began serving their sentences on June 14 and June…