16/03/2008

It Was in the New York Times; So What?

By Mário Magalhães
ombudsman@uol.com.br

The scoop that toppled New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer, involved in a prostitution ring for wealthy men, renewed evidence that, despite recent irritations, "The New York Times" is still vigorous. Perhaps the best journalistic source for information about the United States, it is among the best newspapers in the world.

This status, nevertheless, does not make it a know-it-all about Brazil. To the contrary, the "Times" has accumulated mistakes in risking to talk about Rio's Christ the Redeemer statue with the same boldness that it treats the Statue of Liberty.

Among the celebrated blunders was an uproar in 2004 about the national preoccupation over the president's drinking habits --which did not justify President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's preposterous idea to expel the reporter.

The next year the "Times" reported an epidemic of obesity. On the front page, it showed the Girl from Ipanema with reborn curves. It's just that she wasn't Brazilian, but Czech.

The same correspondent wrote a story that Folha translated: "Amazon Indians complain about sale of their DNA."

Essentially, the news had been published a decade earlier. Procedures to check all the information and listen to the other side were not followed.

It has not been so long since Folha and a big part of local journalism published weighty stories to boast what the "Times" and other foreign publications were pontificating about Brazil.

British Historian Kenneth Maxwell wrote a few days ago: "One of the strangest things about Brazilian journalism is that fact that it continues to confer credibility upon what newspapers in the United States, especially The New York Times, have to say about the country."

The Folha columnist recounted a fiasco by the "Times": in the United Kingdom, the newspaper told about the campaign against fox hunting. The correspondent did not find any hunter or hound, the dog that pursues and kills foxes, in the act. In the same town, Maxwell saw about 300 "restless" hounds gathered.

The journalist did a bad job of gathering information. Maxwell commented about the residents: "I am not sure that they knew and much less cared about what the New York Times is. It is a good lesson for Brazilians."

The newspaper has had great correspondents here, such as Tad Szulc and Alan Riding. Before we did, they recognized the importance of Chico Mendes (the rubber tapper who became a martyr for Amazon destruction).
But treating with reverence every story that cites the country is a sign of cultural and journalistic submission. It suggests provincialism. At times, the inferiority complex impedes pointing out poorly done stories about Brazil behind the Times name.

The world of cartoons is almost all men

The Saturday before last, Folha lost a chance to tell delicious stories from statistics. Headline: "Marriages increase among women older than men."

They printed the percentages but did not show one couple, reporting without people or charm. Numbers don't live with numbers, they don't fall in love.

Some readers saw the cartoon that accompanied the story, reproduced to the side, as an affront to women.

They are legitimate opinions, but I disagree with them. It is not a role of the cartoon to be faithful to studies --older woman are not the majority among women-- but to paint the world with humor. I don't believe that sagging breasts incite discrimination.

The artist, Caco Galhardo, is a star among an exceptional team of cartoonists at Folha. Comprised of almost all men, the team accentuates the newspaper's testosterone.

The art editor, Fabio Marra, commented: "The lack of women in cartooning is not only national, but worldwide. What is curious is that there are excellent illustrators, but few seem to be interested in the humor and sarcasm of cartoons and comic strips. Despite recruitment efforts, Folha has only artist Chiquinha, in the Folhateen section, and Argentine Maitena in the health section."

Uncomfortable journalism

With a teaser in a footnote on the front page, discreet for the crushing nature of the news, Folha reported Feb. 11: "The Labor Ministry decided to transfer 13.5 million reals (US$7.9 million) to the National Federation of Metallurgical Workers (CNTM), tied to the Labor Power federation, to train and place workers in São Paulo.

"The transfer was made with funding for training provided by Codefat (Worker Assistance Fund Deliberative Council) which manages the money of PIS/Pasep contributions by the workers. In this program, the expenditure per unemployed worker relocated is 195.33 reals (US $115). It is nearly double (97%) last year's expenditures by the government of São Paulo state for the same service (99.25 reals, or US$58.50)."

It provided space for a response by the entities. Later, leaders of Labor Power, Codefat and CNTM made their case in letters.

Readers had access to the complaints of those who pointed out errors. It is their right to know opposing views to form judgments.

The state and city of São Paulo rejected transferring training centers to CNTM. CUT (labor federation) and Fiesp (industry group) opposed the agreement. The confederation announced an increase in the number of those receiving benefits, which reduced the per capita cost 31%.

A new scoop came out, "PDT (the left-learning Democratic Labor Party) is favored by Labor Ministry," exposing transfer of about 50 million reals (US$29.4 million) to entities associated with the PDT to which Minister Carlos Lupi belongs. He vouched for the people and organizations mentioned.

Days later, Lupi denied favoritism and announced the creation of a "working group, formed by career civil servants... to go over the agreements with a fine tooth comb and identify irregularities." He promised an Internet site with a list of agreements and their amounts.

Critics responded to Folha and the Rio daily "O Globo," which at the same time discovered relevant facts about the Labor Ministry. Agreements were canceled. The strength of the reporting cast a light on agreements that are accustomed to developing at the margins of journalistic scrutiny.

The revelations had positive consequences on decisions by government and labor organizations. The Controller General decided to investigate the programs.

The president of Labor Power, Congressman Paulo Pereira da Silva, a PDT member from São Paulo, threatened to launch up to 2,000 lawsuits against Folha and "O Globo." His extensive message to Folha came out in the national news section.

Good journalism is critical and uncomfortable. The newspaper should not be intimidated by the idea of lawsuits. Nor should it bias coverage against the labor leader and sacrifice the sober view it has shown up to now.

Translation by John Wright