The campaign was one of the most perturbing that we have ever seen; political coverage was stifled by scandals and dominated by police news
This was not the lukewarm campaign that had been expected. To the contrary, it was one of the most perturbing that we have ever seen. While President Luiz Incio Lula da Silva and other leaders in the government and Workers Party (PT) have at various times tried to blame the press for the tension reached in the electoral clash, the truth is that the PTs mistakes mainly those committed in the final stretch, with the scandal of the attempt to buy a dossier to smear a political opponent repressed political news to make room for police coverage.
Folhas coverage was focused on scandals involving bribery and corruption, polls and low-down behavior in campaigns. The observations that I make are about September, taking into account that the newspaper acted properly to give visibility to the scandal about the dossier and has as a main reference what the role of the press should be during an election season.
1 Folhas coverage had three big deficiencies. The first is historical and applies to all news media the difficulty of evaluating public policy and discussing government programs. It has always been a very complicated aspect of coverage. In theory, the main responsibility of news organizations is to reach conclusions about the performance of candidates who occupy or occupied executive offices and make space for discussion of the big topics that afflict people or impede the country. How do you do it more profoundly, educationally and seriously and not be boring? In every election we try but we end up buried by dossiers, irrelevant agendas of the candidates and by crudeness.
In the case of Folha, some topics were covered in September, such as political and institutional reform, compensatory policies, corruption and economic growth. But there were few pages filled with stories about the elections. The contribution came from columnists and op-ed pieces in the business section and editorial page. There were isolated pieces and discussions that had no continuity, nor were they concerned about being consolidated. We should not excuse ourselves with the fact that the candidates themselves had no interest in giving an accounting and presenting their programs. Their lack of commitment should be one more reason for the newspaper to make the effort to guarantee this service to readers.
2 The second deficiency was coverage of the election for governor of So Paulo, the most-populous state in Brazil, the arena for a huge national clash between the PT and the Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB) and Folhas headquarters. It could be said that there was practically no coverage and that the damage from this omission is incalculable.
3 A third point that I consider to be weak was the newspapers lack of ability to analyze, but it was partially contemplated in September with daily opinion columns.
The daily volume of information about the campaigns and candidates are worth nothing if there is no effort to assemble facts, prioritize them, give them context and try to understand them. When this does not occur and I know that it is difficult due to the avalanche of news that comes out news that is fragmented and disposable ends up dominating.
4 Police news and following the candidates in September ended up suffocating two important areas that Folha began: following the financing of campaigns (always a source of fraud and corruption) and the exposure of candidates for legislative office who are under investigation. This last point was compensated with a special section on Congress that circulated on Thursday.
5 It is a shame that Folha has not done a study this year about the editorial treatment that it gave to each candidate for president and governor of So Paulo. Produced by Datafolha during other campaigns, the last one in 1998, it was an important reference to evaluate the newspapers coverage with a viewpoint that was balanced and impartial, principles strongly questioned in this election.
6 Finally, a new and positive aspect: the use of resources on the Internet. I dont refer to the political blogs, which still have not found their way, but the civic role played by newspapers, TV and radio cant be replaced. Three sites are worth visiting before going to the polls: Elections 2006/Candidates produced by Folha and available at Folha Online (www.folha.com.br/062582) with information about 2,870 candidates for Congress and the Senate in So Paulo and governors throughout Brazil; Project Excellence (www.excelencias.org.br) by Transparency Brazil, with information about 550 candidates for Congress throughout Brazil; and the site Brazilian Politicians (www.politicosdobrasil.com.br), by journalist Fernando Rodrigues of Folha with about 25,000 entries, including assets, of politicians since the election of 1998.
Folhas principles
There is nothing better for Folha readers, on a solemn civic day like today, than to remember the four commitments assumed publicly by the newspaper. These are defined in the stylebook as requirements.
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Non-partisanship: The newspaper does not adhere to a group, ideological trend or political party, but seeks to adopt a clear position regarding controversy. Even when it defends a position, idea or attitude, Folha does not stop publishing positions that diverge from its own.
Critical journalism: The newspaper does not exist to sweeten reality, but to show it from a critical viewpoint. Even without opinionating, it is always possible to report in a critical way. Compare facts, establish analogies, identify contrary attitudes and present different versions about the same event. Folha seeks to practice critical journalism regarding political parties, administrations, groups, ideological trends and events.
Modern journalism: Be seen as modern by introducing into public discussion topics that have not entered into it, new focuses, new concerns, new trends.
Pluralism: In a complex society, every fact is put before multiple, or even antagonistic, interpretations. Folha readers should be assured of their right to access all of them. All the ideological trends expressive of society should be represented in the newspaper.
Translation by John Wright
