22/07/2007

Shorthand registry of the horror

By MÁRIO MAGALHÃES
ombudsman@uol.com.br

When the TAM Airbus exploded beyond the runway at Congonhas Airport in the early evening last Tuesday, leaving a scent of death and a legacy of pain, the worst aviation tragedy in Brazil, newspapers were a few hours away from closing their early editions.

Folha circulated a special section. In my daily critique, I commented on it to the point of exhaustion. Originally sent to the newsroom, these critiques have for years been read without restriction on www.Folha.com.br/ombudsman.

On Thursday, I wrote 31 items, of which 14 follow below. The others are on the Internet, as well as commentary from that night, when I encouraged a multi-faceted approach to the hypotheses for the cause of the disaster. "It's not Folha's job to pass sentence," I defended.

The daily critique has less journalistic strength than the Sunday column. Composed at the heat of the moment, it is more subject to error. It also intends to be a contribution for the newspaper to improve itself the next day from the previous. It almost always focuses on defects and lists suggestions. On Thursday, it related an unusual amount of praise.

Many observations are soon surpassed, as can be verified in the examples that I selected to show today on the role that I perform (almost) every day on the Internet. Next week, I will publish an evaluation of the coverage.

The horror, the horror

Readers of Folha's São Paulo edition, concluded at 12:40 a.m., also received today (Thursday) the best coverage of the tragedy at Congonhas.

Besides the introduction of news that was missing from the national edition, such as "Experts detect smoke, president of Infraero (federal airport agency) asserts," there were other changes - almost all of them for the better - compared with the newspaper finished at 9:30 p.m. For example, instead of narrating the rescue on pages C2 and C3, it was dedicated to looking into the causes of the disaster.

One of the high points was the front page, common to both editions, on the special section. There was a list of names of victims, the shorthand registry of the horror.

There were problems, more than a few, which I will observe as follows. But the trees (mistakes and deficiencies) should not obscure the forest (the good work).

The causes

According to the new information that reinforces the indications about the cause of the accident, it is never too much to underscore: eventually, there could be a combination of various factors (mechanical failure of the airplane, human error, runway conditions).

Even though the runway did not contribute to the disaster, journalistic investigation into the matter and security at the airport is legitimate.

Assertions without proof

The teaser on the front page ("Deaths in the tragedy reach 192; Infraero ponders mechanical failure") makes the following assertion, repeated in the special section: "On the second section of runway, (the airplane) accelerated."

There are no facts that sustain such a certainty. What is known is that the Airbus-A320 went down the runway at Congonhas with greater velocity than when it was landing. You can take that to the bank.

Starting at a certain point, the velocity accelerated.

Still no proof

Telling about the accident graphic by graphic on page C3, this was asserted: "Voices from inside the cockpit saying 'turn, turn, turn now' were heard by air traffic controllers in the control tower."

On page C2, moreover, the newspaper recalled the hypothesis "that the screams came from crew members of the other airplane who, watching the unexpected and tragic maneuver of the Airbus, had involuntarily [sic] screamed 'turn, turn,' a type of rooting for the airplane to escape unharmed..."

Diverse sources told about hearing the screams. But still it is not possible to be certain where they came from.

The voice of readers

Dozens of readers wrote to the ombudsman giving their opinions about the opinion piece by Francisco Daudt, a Folha columnist, whose teaser on the front page said, "What is certain is that what occurred in São Paulo is a crime."

Through the conclusion of this critique, a huge majority condemned it vehemently. A reader said he was "nauseated."

There were readers who praised it. One of them asserted he "felt like his soul was cleansed."

Standardizing time
After the different times cited yesterday, Folha now is using 6:50 p.m. as the instant of the crash.

I suggest this change: the video at Congonhas which shows the failed landing of the TAM Airbus put the time at 6:51 p.m. (at least that was the impression I had from watching TV).

Is that a detail? Maybe. In events of historic importance, however, advocating greater precision is recommended.

What was not said

Folha was correct to compare the rate of airplane accidents in the administrations of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva with his predecessor Fernando Henrique Cardoso.

It lacked, however, one item: the number of disasters and deaths in proportion to the number of passengers. In this case, the fatal disadvantage of President Lula could be surpassed by his predecessor.

It is a sad confrontation.

What else was not said

The well-done story "Runway was cleared after lobbying by companies" (page C11) asserts: "Managers at Infraero and Anac (Brazil's airline regulatory agency) already mentioned the existence of a lobby with authorities by companies which did not want to be dislocated to Guarulhos (São Paulo's international airport) to take off."

Here is the question: Which authorities? What episodes occurred?

Exemplary

Folha did very well by calling attention to one aspect of the company's press conference: "The preoccupation with TAM's image was present during the entire press conference, for an hour and a half. The logo did not appear anywhere."

This is critical journalism

In compensation....

On page B2, the publication of unilateral analysis, without contradictory information, by two professors at the Alberto Luiz Coimbra Graduate School of Research and Engineering at Rio de Janeiro Federal University (Coppe/UFRJ), was unfortunate: "TAM should not suffer damage to its image."

The newspaper had an obligation to seek differing opinions, offering other positions to readers to help them form a judgment.
Pregnant women, children

Journalists who produced the four pages - emotional and unforgettable - about the victims of Flight 3054 should be proud of the work they did.

Where is Lula? Lack of balance

The story "President did not call Serra and Kassab" on page C17 (referring to São Paulo Gov. José Serra and São Paulo Mayor Gilberto Kassab) should have gotten comment - or at least tried - from the presidential palace.

It only had the versions of the governor and mayor.

On the other hand, the newspaper did not clarify why the president disappeared - and did not call the governor and mayor. Because of a sty? Was it really this? Or was it for fear of the image associated with the chaos and tragedy at Congonhas? Why did Defense Minister Waldir Pires not give an interview yesterday?

What is behind this silence? There is a lack of inside information

The house with iron bars

The story "Folha journalist arrested for photographing location" (page C12) did not provide essential information that it uses to verify news about non-journalists.

Police said they detained a Folha photographer when he "violated the roped-off section at TAM's air cargo building, interfering with the rescue services at the location."

What did the photographer say? And the newspaper? In the end, did the photographer violate the roped-off section and interfere with rescue workers? Police complained that the photographer put "his own life at risk." Is that true?

It is clear that police truculence and anti-democratic attitudes should be condemned.

But Folha needs to recount what happened. The story did not obey the standards required to determine facts relating to those who are not known by the newspaper.

A lesson

TV Culture did the right thing by not showing images of a woman falling from high up in the TAM building, considering it shocking.

Translation by John Wright