Article of legislation currently being debated in Congress threatens press freedom
(RSF/IFEX) – Article 9 of Section 5 of a media bill currently being debated in the Brazilian Congress provides for sentences ranging from 30 days to one year of community work (“trabalhos de interesse comunitario”) for journalists convicted of libel, slander or insult. They could also be fined anywhere from R$ 2000 to 100,000 (roughly […]
Bill being debated in House of Representatives poses threat to press freedom
(WAN/IFEX) – Among the provisions of a bill currently being debated by the House of Representatives is one that provides no upper limit for financial awards against publishing companies in cases of defamation. Consequently, punitive awards by the courts could threaten the continued existence of newspapers found guilty of defamation. Additionally, the draft law provides […]
Court to decide on fate of publication ban imposed on the daily “Zero Hora”
On 1 July 1996, the court of Rio Grande do Sul state will hand down a verdict on the publication ban imposed on the Port Alegre daily “Zero Hora”. On 24 June, a judge in Port Alegre handed down an order that prevented the daily from publishing the monthly earnings of the employees of the […]
Legal proceedings initiated against commentator Arnaldo Jabor; proposed media legislation could restrict press freedom
Bonificacio de Andrada, a member of the Brazilian Congress who serves as the attorney for Congress’s Chamber of Deputies, has begun criminal and civil proceedings against television commentator Arnaldo Jabor for comments he made during a news bulletin on 30 May 1996 on Rede Globo, Brazil’s most popular television network. Jabor likened the Chamber to […]
Proposals to regulate community radio stations meets with criticism on both sides of issue
Source: Inter Press Service (IPS) The Brazilian government has presented a bill to the Brazilian Congress that would regulate community radio stations. The bill, introduced earlier this month, would limit informal radio transmitters to 10 watts and a range of 400 metres, and would require that broadcasters be officially licensed as well as have their […]
Three television journalists and staff arrested
On 17 April 1996, “Liberal” television station reporter Marisa Romeo, cameraman Jonias Cardoso and soundman Raimundo Marinho were arrested by police near Eldorado do Carajas, in the northern state of Para. The trio were covering a confrontation between police and landless peasants who were blocking a road. After having been singled out by the police, […]
Police officer awaits trial for murder of “Independente” owner
**Updates IFEX alert dated 20 July 1995** According to journalists in the Brazilian state of Goias, a policeman who allegedly shot Marcos Borges Ribeiro, owner of the monthly journal “Independente” in Rio Verde, state of Goias, confessed to the killing and surrendered to police a few days after the crime. He is reportedly free on […]
Newsprint tax to be debated
A proposal for a new tax on newsprint is contained in a draft bill approved earlier this month by the Constitution and Justice Committee of the lower house of the Brazilian national legislature and is due to be debated by the full Congress shortly. IAPA President Raul Kraiselburd, protesting the measure, said that “making newspapers […]