9th International Symposium 9th International Symposium On Online Journalism On Online Journalism -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Multimedia and Multimedia and Interactivity Interactivity A Brazilian experience: A Brazilian experience: 25,000 politicians and their personal assets 25,000 politicians and their personal assets Fernando Rodrigues Fernando Rodrigues International Nieman Fellow (2007/2008) ( International Nieman Fellow (2007/2008) (www.nieman.harvard.edu ) ) Abraji (Brazilian Association of Investigative Journalism) ( Abraji (Brazilian Association of Investigative Journalism) (www.abraji.org.br ) Avaya Auditorium - ACES (Applied Engineering & Computational Sciences The University of Texas at Austin April 4, 2008
Transcript
9th International Symposium9th International Symposium On Online Journalism On Online Journalism
South America: Middle East:South America: Middle East:
Internet users in selected regions of the world: crucial differencesInternet users in selected regions of the world: crucial differences--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Brazil: 186 million inhabitantsBrazil: 186 million inhabitants
Full democracy (since 1985)Full democracy (since 1985)
42.6 million Internet users (46.3% of S.A.)42.6 million Internet users (46.3% of S.A.)
100% digital elections.100% digital elections.
No Freedom of Information lawNo Freedom of Information law
Growth rate of Growth rate of Brazilians Brazilians connected to connected to the Internet the Internet (2000-2007):(2000-2007):
752%752%
But only 22.4% But only 22.4% of Brazilians of Brazilians are connectedare connected
““Políticos do Brasil” Políticos do Brasil” __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
www.politicosdobrasil.com.br(Politicians from Brazil) (Politicians from Brazil)
Mixed objectives:Mixed objectives:- build up a database mashup- build up a database mashup- produce good investigative stories.- produce good investigative stories.- offer readers a tool they can use.- offer readers a tool they can use.- increase the newspaper’s online ventures.- increase the newspaper’s online ventures.- be more competitive in the online world.- be more competitive in the online world.
““Políticos do Brasil”Políticos do Brasil”----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Politicians from Brazil: Politicians from Brazil: www.politicosdobrasil.com.br
Project began in 2000 (data collecting).Project began in 2000 (data collecting).
Released in 2002Released in 2002
More than 25,000 politicians listedMore than 25,000 politicians listed
Free search website - entirely open to the publicFree search website - entirely open to the public
In 2006, when it was updated for the last time, it received In 2006, when it was updated for the last time, it received more than 1 million visitors on that single day.more than 1 million visitors on that single day.
Journalism - source of news stories for the Journalism - source of news stories for the newspaper “Folha de S.Paulo”.newspaper “Folha de S.Paulo”.
Checking individuals records (no FoIA in Brazil Checking individuals records (no FoIA in Brazil neither in major countries in LA)neither in major countries in LA)
Particular interest in election filesParticular interest in election files(assets lists of everyone who runs for a public office)(assets lists of everyone who runs for a public office)
Extensive use of CAR Extensive use of CAR (Computer Assisted Reporting… an (Computer Assisted Reporting… an entrance door to online journalism.entrance door to online journalism.
Comparison of official data with real life – Comparison of official data with real life – holding politicians accountable holding politicians accountable (which generated tens (which generated tens of news stories for a variety of newspapers around the country)of news stories for a variety of newspapers around the country)
““Folha” alone could not run the stories on all Folha” alone could not run the stories on all 25,000 politicians25,000 politicians
Availability of information online prompted some Availability of information online prompted some participatory journalismparticipatory journalism
Readers started to call reporting inconsistencies Readers started to call reporting inconsistencies between politicians’ with records and real lifebetween politicians’ with records and real life
Other newspapers also benefited from using the Other newspapers also benefited from using the database to check for information that would not database to check for information that would not be available otherwisebe available otherwise
Higher degree of accountabilityHigher degree of accountability
Politicians were scrutinized in a way they had Politicians were scrutinized in a way they had never been before.never been before.
Several “extra-Folha” stories were generated by Several “extra-Folha” stories were generated by competitor news outlets because of the competitor news outlets because of the “Politicos” database“Politicos” database
One example of a politician One example of a politician being held accountablebeing held accountable
Former governor of Maranhão State José Former governor of Maranhão State José Reinaldo Tavares (2002-2006) and former vice-Reinaldo Tavares (2002-2006) and former vice-governor (1998-2002)governor (1998-2002)
His assets retrieved from “Políticos”:His assets retrieved from “Políticos”:
In 1998, he had declared R$ 388,921,10In 1998, he had declared R$ 388,921,10
In 2002 – total assets: R$ 549,270,10In 2002 – total assets: R$ 549,270,10
% change from 1998 to 2002: 41.2%% change from 1998 to 2002: 41.2%
But… when he was about to leave office…But… when he was about to leave office…
José Reinaldo’s records:José Reinaldo’s records:
Governor official assets in 1998Governor official assets in 1998(R$ 388,921,10)(R$ 388,921,10)
Governor official assets in 2002Governor official assets in 2002(R$ 549,270.10)(R$ 549,270.10)
In 2002 – total assets: R$ 549,270,10In 2002 – total assets: R$ 549,270,10
In 1998, he had declared R$ 388,921,10In 1998, he had declared R$ 388,921,10
% change from 1998 to 2002: 41.2%% change from 1998 to 2002: 41.2%
But… when he was about to leave office…But… when he was about to leave office…
Governor’s summary:Governor’s summary:
Last year in office (2006)Last year in office (2006)bought a penthouse:bought a penthouse:
R$ 3,000,000.00 R$ 3,000,000.00
… … former governor was is currently former governor was is currently facing charges of tax evasionfacing charges of tax evasion
Big scandal (May 23Big scandal (May 23rd,rd, 2007)… 2007)…
Another example: in Rio, a politician declared just Another example: in Rio, a politician declared just a regular house,a regular house,
but see what “O Globo’s” reporters found... but see what “O Globo’s” reporters found...
The “million dollar club” in RioThe “million dollar club” in Rio
Newspapers regularly publish the evolution of the Newspapers regularly publish the evolution of the assets of every politicianassets of every politician
source: “O Globo”source: “O Globo”
Rio’s “Tribuna” Rio’s “Tribuna” published a story published a story
this January (2008)this January (2008)
Thank you
Políticos do Brasil website (www.politicosdobrasil.com.br)
