The Chimera…

Journalists at Folha appear willing to use any datum, statistic or “study” that falls into their hands, with little or no questioning. A debate starts only if a specialist outside the newsroom seeks the newspaper or a well-prepared columnist ventures into the field. This blemish shows up, for example, in the discussion of the two main topics of the day, unemployment and the social security system.

At its best, the newspaper — I’m referring to its most meaningful part, reporting — places conflicting information side by side to present all sides of the …