04 Jan 12 | Americas, Index Index, minipost
Brazilian radio reporter Laécio de Souza was shot dead by two men yesterday in Salvador, in the north east of the country. Police said the journalist, a local news reporter for radio station Sucesso FM, had been receiving threats on his mobile phone in the lead up to his murder. Police have not released a motive for the crime, although it has been suggested local drug traffickers were upset with the journalist’s plans to construct a social project on his land.
13 Sep 11 | Index Index, minipost
Valderlei Canuto Leandro, host of the show Sinal Verde on Radio Frontera, was murdered by unidentified gunmen on a motorcycle in Tabatinga, located in the Brazilian state of Amazonas, on 1 September. Local bloggers say Canuto was known for his criticism of local politics. In May, Canuto filed a complaint claiming that Tabatinga’s mayor Samuel Benerguy had threatened him with death for reporting on corruption in the municipality.
07 Sep 11 | Index Index, minipost
A court in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul has prohibited media outlets operated by Grupo RBS from publishing the name or image of councilman, Adenir Mengue Webber, who is involved in a public funds scandal. Failure to comply with the ruling could result in a 600 USD-a-day fine. In August 2010, Fantástico, a TV programme, presented a series of reports denouncing trips taken by council members using state funds. The politicians justified the trips, saying they involved training courses. The National Association of Newspapers and the Brazilian Association of Investigative Journalism both condemned the ruling, saying it violated freedom of expression.
31 Aug 11 | Index Index, minipost
Courts in the Brazilian state of Ceará have blocked access to 140,000 USD in the accounts of Google Brazil after the internet giant refused to take down a series of blogs with content deemed “offensive” toward the mayor of Várzea Alegre. The blogs in question accuse the mayor of corruption and diverting public funds, although no sources have been cited for the accusations. The mayor has reportedly said the blogs’ anonymous messages smear his image.
