Brazilian Association of Investigative Journalism

Brazilian journalism organization

Associação Brasileira de Jornalismo Investigativo (transl. Brazilian Association of Investigative Journalism;[1] abbreviated as ABRAJI) is an organization for Brazilian Journalists wanting to exchange information, experiences, and tips about investigative journalism. They are a non-profit association maintained by the journalists themselves. Some of their goals include: holding congresses, seminars, and specialized workshops; taking care of the professional improvement of journalists; publishing books on the subject; and hosting forums for exchanging experiences.[2][3][4]

## History

[edit]

The concept for the ABRAJI was realized in a seminar called Jornalismo Investigativo: Ética, Técnicas e Perigos (transl. Investigative Journalism: Ethics, Techniques and Dangers). The event was organized by the Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas of the University of Texas in Austin and was directed by Brazilian journalist Rosental Alves. There, the journalists asked themselves why there was no Brazilian institution for investigative journalists like Investigative Reporters and Editors in the United States or the Centro de Periodismo de Investigación in Mexico.[2][5]

A group of 45 journalists from several newsrooms began exchanging emails at the initiative of Marcelo Beraba, the director of the Rio de Janeiro branch of Folha de S. Paulo, a Brazilian newspaper. Following a positive reception and the arrival of new journalists, Rosental Alves organized an email discussion list in the form of a LISTSERV. The computers at the University of Texas, where Alves was teaching, hosted the discussion list.[2]

In 2020, the association conducted its first virtual congress due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event was free of charge and hosted 10,000 attendees..[6]

## Investigative journalism

[edit]

In 2018, Ctrl+X—a project by the association that monitors attempts to lessen information on the internet—reported that Brazilian politicians went to the Brazilian Election Justice 340 times to hide information published on the internet, such as negative news and posts critical of the 2018 election candidates.[7][8]

In 2019, data from Ctrl+X reported that more than 800 Brazilian politicians resorted to lawsuits asking for internet content to be removed between 2018 and 2019. In 93.5% of the cases, they claimed "defamation" to censor information.[9]

In a survey done in March 2021, ABRAJI noted that at least 174 journalists had been blocked by Brazilian public figures on Twitter. Among these public figures included president Jair Bolsonaro, his Twitter profile having blocked 50 journalists.[10]

## Books

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Books written by ABRAJI's associates and promoted by the organization in its website:

* 10 reportagens que abalaram a ditadura (10 news reports that shook the dictatorship), published by Editora Record[11]
* 50 Anos de Crimes – Reportagens policiais que marcaram o jornalismo brasileiro (50 Years of Crime – Police reports that have marked Brazilian journalism), published by Editora Record[12]

## Awards

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Year  | Category  | Institution or publication  | Result | Notes | Ref.

|
|
|
|
|

2003  | Melhor Contribuição à Imprensa (Best Contribution to the Press)  | ExxonMobil Journalism Award | Won  | for "contributing to the improvement of the quality of journalism, as well as the defense of the professional prerogatives of journalism"  | [13]
2012  | Liberdade de Imprensa (Freedom of Press award)  | Associação Nacional de Jornais  | Won  |  | [14]
2013  | Personalidade de 2013 (Person of 2013)  | Faz Diferença  | Won  |  | [15][16]

## See also

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* Global Investigative Journalism Network, which ABRAJI is part of
* Investigative Reporters and Editors, American association focused in investigative journalism
* Center for Investigative Reporting (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
* Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism

## References

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1. ^ Alessandra Monnerat (25 July 2017). "Abraji Turns 15, Launches Fight Against Impunity". Global Investigative Journalism Network. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
2. ^ a b c "Abraji – Institucional". www.abraji.org.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 2 June 2017. Retrieved 4 March 2021. "Durante o Seminário, vários de nós voltamos a nos perguntar por que não temos ainda no Brasil uma instituição formada e mantida por jornalistas, independente, voltada para a troca de informações entre nós, para a formação profissional, para o aprofundamento dos conhecimentos e uso de ferramentas na área do jornalismo investigativo, para a formação de uma literatura e bancos de dados, para a promoção de seminários, congressos e oficinas de aperfeiçoamento profissional."
3. ^ "Congresso Abraji terá mais de 70 painéis". www.observatoriodaimprensa.com.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 4 March 2021.
4. ^ "Seminário em São Paulo celebra 10 anos da Abraji – Política". Estadão (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 4 March 2021.
5. ^ "Abraji comemora 10 anos". abraji.org.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 17 January 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
6. ^ "After virtual congress with 10,000 participants, Abraji evaluates hybrid model for the coming years". LatAm Journalism Review by the Knight Center. 18 September 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
7. ^ "ABRAJI – Ctrl+X – Notícias – Políticos já foram 340 vezes à Justiça em 2018 para esconder informações da internet". www.ctrlx.org.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). ABRAJI. Archived from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
8. ^ "Candidatos acionam Justiça para retirar conteúdo negativo da internet". Agência Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). Empresa Brasil de Comunicação. 2 October 2018. Archived from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
9. ^ "Ministro do Turismo tenta aplicar censura à Folha de S.Paulo". www.abraji.org.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 19 October 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2021. "A ação de Antônio se soma aos mais de 800 processos em que políticos pediram a retirada de conteúdos da internet em 2018 e 2019, segundo dados do projeto Ctrl+X, da Abraji. A difamação foi pretexto para o pedido de censura em 93,5% dos casos."
10. ^ "Abraji records 174 cases of journalists being blocked by Brazilian authorities on Twitter". LatAm Journalism Review by the Knight Center. 24 March 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
11. ^ "10 reportagens que abalaram a ditadura". www.abraji.org.br. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
12. ^ "50 Anos de Crimes – Reportagens policiais que marcaram o jornalismo brasileiro". abraji.org.br. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
13. ^ "Prêmio Esso de Jornalismo 2003". ExxonMobil Journalism Award. Archived from the original on 11 August 2010.
14. ^ Barros, Jorge Antonio. "Abraji recebe Prêmio ANJ de Liberdade de Imprensa". Ancelmo – O Globo (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 4 March 2021.
15. ^ "Faz Diferença: festa homenageará os que se destacaram em 2013". Extra Online (in Brazilian Portuguese). Grupo Globo. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
16. ^ "Faz Diferença premia destaques de 2013". O Globo (in Brazilian Portuguese). Grupo Globo. 26 March 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2021.

## External links

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* Official page (In Brazilian Portuguese)
* Twitter page
* Youtube channel

*[transl.]: translation
*[Ref.]: Reference