Rio de Janeiro’s favelas are the city’s affordable housing stock, but they are also arguably the world’s most stigmatized communities. By bringing nuance to their narratives of these neighborhoods, journalists help pave the way for more productive policies. Below, you can find essential materials about Rio’s favelas and the city’s transformations, organized to support informed and nuanced reporting.

RioOnWatch Policy for Reporting and Working with Journalists

The Basics

About these resources
What is a favela?
Favela facts
Favela Qualities
“Favela as a Sustainable Model” [VIDEO]
Alternative Text box
Favelas as affordable housing

 

 

 

 

 

 

What Journalists Need to Know About Covering Favelas

Community Contacts
Favela reporting best practices
Best and worst reporting on favelas
Favela perspective: “What the Mainstream Media Gets Wrong”
Why call them favelas?
Research: Favelas in the international media

 

 

 

 

 

 

Visit a Favela on a Community-led Tour

Favela tour operators
“Rolé dos Favelados” Activist Favela Tour
Vale Encantado: Otávio Barros
Morro dos Cabritos: Gilmar Lopes
Turano: Wilson Moraes

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sustainable Community Solutions

NEW: Sustainable Favela Network profiles
Community solutions
Community-based organizations
Environmental projects
Informal economy

 

 

 

 

 

 

Policy Reference Pieces

Overview: Mayor Crivella’s Strategic Plan
Strategic Plan: Latest news and favela organizing
Pacifying Police Units (UPPs)
Minha Casa Minha Vida public housing
Policies and projects “for the English to see”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Favela Policy Recommendations

Housing policy lessons from Rio’s favelas
Brazilian housing law memos
Combatting exploitative tourism
#ParticipationWatch
Right to the city

 

 

 

 

 

 

Favela Voices: Opinion, Media, and Community Organizing

Who to follow on social media
Favela resident opinion pieces
Community media profiles
Community leader profiles
Resistance

 

 

 

 

 

 

#EvictionsWatch

Latest RioOnWatch evictions coverage
Horto
Rio das Pedras
Maracajás Road
Evictions Museum

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monitoring Olympic Legacy

#LegacyWatch
The New York Times: Unkept Legacy Promises
Rio’s Unplanned Olympic Legacies
Vila Autódromo timeline
Dossier of pre-Olympics human rights violations

 

 

 

 

 

 

Press inquiries: press@catcomm.org