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The Right to Criticize and to Complain

10/17/2016 - 15h56

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PAULA CESARINO COSTA

"We have to dig for, uncover and find evidence, to be just in the ascertainment and loyal to the truth that we reveal. But at the end we have to reach a conclusion, and this conclusion, these days, has to be presented in a more explicit way. Newspapers need to have a clearer editorial position in relation to each story that they cover." MARTIN BARON, Executive Editor of The Washington Post.

To stimulate a rethinking of journalism, I highlighted in the internal critique circulating in Copywriting a proposal for reformulation defended by Martin Baron from the Washington Post in an interview with the Folha. I wanted to draw attention to one of the relevant issues in the much needed revitalization of the work of journalism.

Dealing with and discussing at the same time questions of impartiality and balance that is required by coverage and the new habits of news consumption that expect newspapers to be more incisive and transparent in their positions.
Last week, most of the messages from readers concentrated on the controversy that got started with the publication of the article "Unravelling Moro" authored by Physicist and University Professor Rogério Cezar de Cerqueira Leite, a member of the Folha's Editorial Council.

The opinion piece provoked a letter of protest from Judge Sergio Moro, which was published in the Letters to the Editor, against the article and against the newspaper.

In the article, Cerqueira Leite compared Moro to Girolamo Savonarola, a moralistic Dominican Friar obsessed with combating corruption. "Savonarola was burned [at the stake]. Be careful Moro, fire is the destiny of moralistic fanatics", the professor wrote.

Moro's reaction in his letter was centered more on the Folha itself than on the arguments brandished by Cerqueira Leite. He complained that the writer made "inappropriate parallels" with the tendency to "suggest acts of violence against a magistrate". "() The publication of pamphleteering partisan views linked only to prejudice and rancor, without any factual basis, should be avoided by newspapers with the tradition and history of the Folha."

Then by letter, the Physicist again accused the Judge of partiality and said that the "fire" reference was metaphorical.
The majority of readers who wrote to the Ombudsman and to the Letters to the Editor defended Moro. In addition to criticizing Cerqueira Leite, they wanted to know the reason why the Folha had published his piece.

The newspaper responded that articles don't necessarily reflect the opinion of the paper. Readers pushed back: "I doubt that if he weren't from the Editorial Council, the Folha would have published such an empty, shallow and childish article", argued Clodomiro Vergueiro Porto Filho. "This kind of publication cheapens the newspaper and only provokes the worst impressions", said Edgar Costa.

On the other hand, there were those who saw in Moro's position a defense of prior-censorship. "To complain about providing space for the publication of an article that he didn't like looks to me like an abominable attempt at prior-censorship", declared Fabrizio Wrolli.

Executive Editor Sérgio Dávila clarified that the general postulates of the Folha's editorial statutes count on provision for the approval of the Editorial Council, but specific subjects are not even submitted for evaluation, which in any case has a consultative, not deliberative status.

The Deputy Editor of the "Opinion" Section, Marco Rodrigo Almeida, holds that Cerqueira Leite is a respected scientist and that in the political debate he expresses the opinion of a segment of society. He believes that the article meets the principle of plurality.

From my point-of-view, the Folha was right in publishing the article in the spirit of plurality, but perhaps failed by not proposing that the author avoid language that could be interpreted as stimulating violence. It's true that the newspaper is responsible for the quality of what it selects to publish, but Moro is wrong in wanting it to refuse material simply because of its content.

The themes related to the Lava Jato (Car Wash investigation) are becoming more and more inflammatory. Sobriety and balance are essential to being just in the ascertainment and loyal to the truth as Martin Baron argued.

More pluralism and less stupidity

"The Copywriting Manual preaches that 'all significant ideological leanings of society must be represented in the newspaper'. Too bad that this never applies to the cartoonists", complained reader Jeferson Araujo Pereira. His voice is not alone.

There is frequent criticism regarding a lack of diversity in the Folha's cartoons. "All of them are from the left", "in favor of Lula and Dilma", is often heard.
The newspaper is aware of this and communicates that it is "currently working to correct imbalances".

On Friday (the 14th), a cartoon by André Dahmer set off a reaction among readers. "It passed the limit of what is acceptable, offending people from São Paulo and readers, calling us 'stupid' because the vast majority didn't vote for his preferred candidate. It's a comic strip that isn't funny, is in poor taste, in addition to not being creative at all", criticized Luiz Augusto Pereira Alves.

For reader Elvio Bombardi, it was a sad comic strip, coming from someone who "uses a space with great repercussion like the Folha to show his personal revulsion".

Dahmer says that he understands the indignation. "Stupidity is a strong word, but I did this because it's hard to understand how the people of São Paulo can elect a government of the rich for the rich."

"The Folha respects the opinion of its cartoonists and comic and political strip writers, although it doesn't always agree with them", declares Copywriting Editor Roberto Dias.

Translated by LLOYD HARDER

Read the article in the original language

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