7 journalists who marked the history of the press in Brazil

Journalist’s Day, celebrated on April 7, is a date when tribute is paid to press professionals in Brazil. Like keen eyes and ears, journalists are responsible for collecting, investigating and disseminating information of public interest, sometimes even risking their own lives. For providing the necessary information to the community and demanding the authorities, they are considered “guardians of democracy”.

Why April 7th?

The date was chosen in honor of João Batista Líbero Badaró, an important journalist of the 19th century. He was assassinated in São Paulo on April 7, 1830, as a result of his denunciations of corruption and abuses of power by the government at the time. Known for liberal positions and the defense of freedom of the press, his articles criticized the government of the time and Emperor Dom Pedro I.

There are no records of who killed the professional, but it is believed to have been someone connected to the group of conservative politicians. His death caused great commotion and was one of the factors that contributed to the abdication of Dom Pedro I, which took place a few months later.

A little over a century later, in 1931, Journalist Day was made official in Brazil by the Brazilian Press Association (ABI), in honor of the legacy of struggle and courage left by João Batista Líbero Badaró. Since thenthe date is celebrated across the country as a tribute to professionals who dedicate their lives to information, truth and freedom of expression.

Therefore, it is essential to give them the importance and recognition they deserve. So, below, meet 5 renowned journalists in the history of the Brazilian press.

1. Rachel de Queiroz

Pioneer of female participation in journalism, in 1953, she became the first woman to write chronicles for the newspaper O Estado de S. Paulo and to join the Brazilian Academy of Letters, in 1977. collaborated with the newspaper O Ceará, in his hometown, Fortaleza. Rachel de Queiroz (1910-2003) also stood out for her political and social militancy, with an emphasis on defending feminist causes.

In addition, she was also one of the first women to work as a screenwriter in Brazil, having written the script for the documentary film “Aruanda” (1960). Rachel is considered one of the greatest representatives of the modernism in Brazilian literature, through the book published in 1930, “O Quinze”, a reference to a regionalist work.

2. Ricardo Boechat

Elected the most admired journalist in the country for three consecutive years, from 2016 to 2018, in a survey carried out by the Jornalistas & Cia website, Ricardo Boechat (1952-2019) was one of the most important professionals in the Brazilian press. He has won numerous awards throughout his career, including three times the Esso Journalism Award, second only to the Pulitzer in the profession. A strong spokesman for Band in the last years of its life, he also worked for several other publications, such as O Globo, Jornal do Brasil and O Estado de S. Paulo. Boechat stood out for his courage in facing big companies and public figures, denouncing irregularities and abuses of power.

3. Vladimir Herzog

In addition to being a journalist, Herzog (1937-1975) was an activist and political activist who fought for democracy and freedom of expression in Brazil during the military dictatorship. He was assassinated in 1975 after being detained and tortured by regime authorities. In life, he worked as a journalist at TV Cultura, where he presented the newscast Hora da Notícia. In memory of him, October 25 was declared the National Day of Democracy and the Fight for Justice, in recognition of his fight for freedom of expression and human rights. Currently, the journalist is honored through the Vladimir Herzog Amnesty and Human Rights Award.

4. Caco Barcellos

An example for the new generations of journalists who seek to do critical journalism committed to social transformation, Caco Barcellos (1950) is the author of great workssuch as “Rota 66”, a book that reports cases of abuse of power and addresses police violence in the city of São Paulo, especially during the 1980s. The journalist, currently on the Profissão Repórter team as a special reporter, became known for his acting in investigative reports on sensitive topics in a raw and intimate way.

5. Patricia Campos Mello

The Brazilian journalist received the International Press Freedom Award in 2020, due to her reporting on the scandal of fake news linked to Facebook during the 2018 presidential elections in Brazil. In addition to this, Patrícia (1975) has already received several others for her work in defense of human rights and accusations of corruption, including the Maria Moors Cabot Award, from Columbia University, in the United States, one of the most important in journalism in the world. For many professional colleagues, she is an example of resistance and commitment to the truth.

6. Gloria Maria

Journalist Glória Maria (1949-2023) is reference in the performance of women, especially black women, in the Brazilian press. She was responsible for reports produced in more than 170 countries. Owner of several awards throughout her career, including the Vladimir Herzog Award for Amnesty and Human Rights (1995), and memorable interviews, the professional was an advocate of diversity and inclusion, bringing in her reports guidelines on different cultures, ethnicities and groups social. She was also one of the main voices in the fight against prejudice in Brazil, having publicly positioned herself on several occasions on the subject.

7. Roberto Marinho

Considered one of the most influential figures in the history of communication in Brazil, Marinho (1904-2003) began his journalistic career as a child, when he helped his father Irineu Marinho, founder of the newspaper O Globo. Over the years, as an entrepreneur, he expanded the vehicle to radio and television stations, forming Rede Globo de Televisão in 1965. The professional played an important role in defining the editorial line of journalism in the country, influencing the way news were covered and presented to the public. Home to great Brazilian journalists, Grupo Globo is currently one of the largest media companies in Latin America.