Brazilian radio journalist Marco Antônio Ferreira threatened, car burned
Rio de Janeiro, December 23, 2020 – Brazilian authorities must promptly and thoroughly investigate threats to radio journalist Marco Antônio Ferreira and the burning of his car, and determine if they were related to his reporting, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Around 3:30 a.m. on December 12, Ferreira, a host at the privately-owned broadcaster…
Brazilian journalist Arimatéia Azevedo held for 5 months under house arrest, gag order
From June to November 2020, Brazilian authorities held journalist Arimatéia Azevedo under house arrest, placed his news outlet under a gag order, and detained him multiple times, according to news reports, the journalist, and his two daughters, Haidyne and Ana Azevedo, all of whom spoke to CPJ in phone interviews. Azevedo is based in Piauí…
Rio de Janeiro Military Police publish video criticizing, insulting journalist Rafael Soares
In the evening of December 8, 2020, the Military Police of Rio de Janeiro published a video on its website and official YouTube and Twitter accounts in response to an article that Rafael Soares, a security reporter for national newspapers O Globo and Extra, had published previously that day. Soares’ article concerned a Military Police…
Brazilian journalist assaulted and threatened over political coverage
At about 2:30 p.m. on October 21, 2020, two men entered the home of journalist José Airton Alves Júnior in the town of Itarema, in Brazil’s northeast Ceará state, punched and kicked him several times, and threatened him, according to news reports and the journalist, who spoke to CPJ in a phone interview. Alves Júnior…
Brazilian journalists threatened, assaulted while covering pandemic lockdown
Rio de Janeiro, November 4, 2020 — Brazilian authorities must promptly investigate the harassment of journalist Bárbara Barbosa and camera operator Renato Soder and ensure the press can work safely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. In the morning of November 2, in the southern city of Florianópolis, a group of about nine unidentified…
Journalist Romano dos Anjos kidnapped and assaulted in Brazil
Rio de Janeiro, October 29, 2020 — Brazilian authorities must promptly and thoroughly investigate the kidnapping of journalist Romano dos Anjos, bring those responsible to justice, and ensure he can work safely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On October 26, at about 8:30 p.m., three unidentified men broke into dos Anjos’ home in…
Getting Away with Murder
CPJ’s 2020 Global Impunity Index spotlights countries where journalists are slain and their killers go free By Elana Beiser/CPJ Editorial Director Published October 28, 2020 Incremental progress toward reducing the murders of journalists worldwide is fragile and could be thwarted by legal appeals and lack of political leadership, CPJ found in its latest report on…
Physical Safety: Covering wildfires
Wildfires are becoming more frequent across the world and increasing in both severity and extent, according to Science Brief, a website that reviews peer-reviewed scientific studies on various topics, including climate change. Media workers covering any wildfire should be aware of the dynamic nature of such a disaster, and how a rapidly evolving situation on…
Report: Rio de Janeiro mayor’s office paid employees to harass journalists covering pandemic
New York, September 1, 2020 – Brazilian national TV channel Globo yesterday aired an investigative report that found that the office of Rio de Janeiro Mayor Marcelo Crivella used public funds to pay groups of municipal employees to monitor and obstruct journalists at local hospitals and block news crews from covering the COVID-19 pandemic. “It…
Journalist Alex Braga attacked, threatened in Brazil
Rio de Janeiro, July 30, 2020 – Brazilian authorities must promptly and thoroughly investigate the attack on journalist Alex Braga, bring those responsible to justice, and ensure he can work safely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Shortly after 9 p.m. on July 23, unidentified men drove a car into Braga’s vehicle while he…