{"id":35279,"date":"2018-01-09T19:54:22","date_gmt":"2018-01-09T22:54:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.rioonwatch.org\/?page_id=35279"},"modified":"2024-08-13T07:40:09","modified_gmt":"2024-08-13T10:40:09","slug":"best-practices-for-reporting-on-favelas","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?page_id=35279","title":{"rendered":"Best Practices for Reporting on Favelas"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Reporting on Rio’s complex and varying favelas is no easy task.\u00a0Given the long history of marginalization and stigmatization of favelas, the words and images used to portray these communities really matter. As a journalist, your words\u00a0may inadvertently reinforce the logic behind policies of forced evictions or police occupations. Alternatively, the topics\u00a0you highlight and the people you quote may challenge\u00a0negative perceptions and alleviate some of the\u00a0discrimination residents face in their daily lives.<\/p>\n

Read\u00a0RioOnWatch’s\u00a0<\/em>policy on reporting and working with journalists here<\/a>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Building on the years we’ve worked with favelas, starting in 2000, as well as seven years of reporting on them and supporting hundreds of domestic and international journalists’ reporting, we’ve put together a short list of best practices for journalists.<\/p>\n

Choose your words carefully:<\/h3>\n

Not only do the words “slum,” “shantytown,” “ghetto,” and “squatter settlement” carry a whole lot of negative assumptions for most readers, they are simply not accurate descriptions of favelas (see definitions here<\/a>). Check out this well-argued case for retiring the word “slum”<\/a> (but note that we disagree with the author’s argument for avoiding the word “favela”\u2014there is nothing inherently negative about this local term, which favela organizers increasingly associate with a sense of community pride). Instead of “slum” or “shantytown” or similar words:<\/p>\n

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  1. Use the word ‘favela,’ rather than a substitution like ‘slum,’ etc.<\/li>\n
  2. If you need to describe favelas in general, do so carefully (see below).<\/li>\n
  3. Do describe the favela your article focuses on to show the local flavor and diversity (see below).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \"\"<\/a>Good examples<\/em>:<\/strong><\/p>\n