New York, May 17, 2004—The Brazilian government dropped its threat on Friday, May 15, to expel New York Times correspondent Larry Rohter, restoring the journalist’s visa. The Ministry of Justice made its decision after receiving a letter from Rohter’s Brazilian lawyers stating that he had not meant to offend Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da…
New York, May 14, 2004—A Brazilian judge has allowed New York Times Brazil correspondent Larry Rohter to continue working in Brazil while a government decision to revoke his visa is reviewed. Rohter’s visa was revoked earlier this week after he wrote an article about the drinking habits of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.…
New York, May 12, 2004—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemns the Brazilian Ministry of Justice’s decision to revoke the visa of New York Times Brazil correspondent Larry Rohter. The move came after Rohter wrote an article about the drinking habits of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, known as “Lula.” Rohter is currently…
New York, April 29, 2004—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is alarmed that two Brazilian radio journalists known for their coverage of corruption and crime were killed last week in remote regions. On April 24, radio host José Carlos Araújo was killed in the town of Timbaúba, about 60 miles (100 kilometers) from the state…
New York, July 2, 2003—At least two unidentified men killed Nicanor Linhares Batista, host of a radio show and owner of a radio station in Brazil’s northeastern state of Ceará. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is investigating whether the murder was related to Nicanor’s journalistic work. Nicanor, 42, was the owner of Rádio Vale…
Nova York, 2 de junho de 2003—Ao menos dois sujeitos não identificados mataram Nicanor Linhares Batista, apresentador de um programa de rádio e proprietário de uma emissora de rádio no estado do Ceará. O Comitê para a Proteção dos Jornalistas (CPJ, por sua sigla em inglês) investiga se o assassinato está vinculado com o trabalho…
Economic and political turmoil throughout Latin America in 2002 had profound implications for the region’s press. Sharp decreases in advertising revenue bankrupted many media outlets, while the failure to consolidate democratic reforms left the media vulnerable to legal and physical assault. Five journalists were killed in Latin America in 2002 for their work.
Workers Party (PT) candidate and former labor leader Luiz Inácio da Silva, known as Lula, won presidential elections in October, defeating the ruling coalition’s candidate by a wide margin and becoming Brazil’s first president not to come from the country’s political and economic elite. In previous elections, the country’s leading newspapers and television networks opposed…
The U.S. government took aggressive measures in 2002 to shield some of its activities from press scrutiny. These steps not only reduced access for U.S. reporters but had a global ripple effect, with autocratic leaders citing U.S. government actions to justify repressive policies.