{"id":77270,"date":"2024-01-31T10:09:17","date_gmt":"2024-01-31T13:09:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=77270"},"modified":"2024-02-01T10:41:05","modified_gmt":"2024-02-01T13:41:05","slug":"best-and-worst-international-reporting-on-rio-de-janeiros-favelas-10th-edition-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=77270","title":{"rendered":"2023 Retrospective of Best International Reporting on Rio\u2019s Favelas (10th Edition)"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Aerial<\/a>
Aerial view of Sol Nascente, currently the largest favela in Brazil. Photo: Jorge William\/Ag\u00eancia O Globo<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Clique aqui para Portugu\u00eas<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

This is the 10th edition of our media watchdog series Best and Worst International Reporting on Rio\u2019s Favelas<\/a>, part of\u00a0RioOnWatch<\/em>\u2019s ongoing conversation on the media narrative<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0portrayal<\/a>\u00a0of favelas.<\/h4>\n

A Significant Improvement in International Media Coverage in 2023<\/h3>\n

With some distance from the specter of Covid-19, the period of political transition and tension<\/a> took center stage in early-year international media coverage of Brazil, particularly<\/a> due to the January 8 attacks<\/a> on Bras\u00edlia. The political divide<\/a> in the country remained under scrutiny, but propositive analyses<\/a> were also conducted, with a significant emphasis on environmental sustainability<\/a> in diplomatic discussions<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Inauguration<\/a>
Inauguration of the ministers for Indigenous Peoples, Sonia Guajajara, and Racial Equality, Anielle Franco. Photo: Valter Campanema\/Ag\u00eancia Brasil<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In this context, 2023’s international reporting on favelas began with the announcement of a significant step towards their greater representation, with the historic appointment of a second favela native as federal minister, Anielle Franco\u2014born and raised in Rio de Janeiro’s Complexo da Mar\u00e9\u2014Minister of Racial Equality<\/strong>. Sister of slain councilwoman Marielle Franco, Anielle’s appointment was reported by Time<\/em><\/a> and The Guardian<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Mirroring this scenario of change and the search for more genuine representation of favelas, international headlines have shown growing care in their approaches, giving space to the active voices of residents and organizers. Compared to the first edition of this series in 2014<\/a>, there is no doubt: back then, the majority of international reports on favelas were stereotypical, filled with harmful, counterproductive, and lazy narratives<\/a>. This led us to start the annual series with the worst reports: there were so few good ones to speak of. And why is this important? Because the perceptions and actions of Brazilian governments, from municipal to national, are also guided by international public opinion.<\/p>\n

Fortunately, today, we can attest that the vast majority of coverage of favelas in prominent global outlets feature residents as protagonists and explore a wide range of topics, some presenting profound perspectives with significant nuance. As a result, this year, we will focus solely on these\u2014the best\u2014mentioning errors and limitations when appropriate throughout the text.<\/p>\n

Climate Justice and Local Protagonism as a Focus<\/h3>\n

Throughout 2023, as we witnessed<\/a> the deepening<\/a> climate crisis in Brazil and around the world, an increasing focus of international press interest emerged on favelas as the early arenas of the climate transition, for better or for worse, and how they cope with this crisis, which has increasingly led to water and energy shortages.<\/p>\n

In April, The New York Times <\/em>published<\/a> the article \u201cBrazil\u2019s Favelas Offer Lessons in Building Trust<\/strong>,\u201d sharing solutions developed in the favelas and raising awareness among readers about the crises they face. The article highlighted the critical impact of historically-generated mistrust towards authorities, especially during situations like the pandemic, and emphasized the importance of community movements in mitigating its damages. Community collectives from Jacarezinho, Morro dos Prazeres, and Mar\u00e9 informed the article.<\/p>\n

\"Members<\/a>
Members of LabJaca at the organization’s headquarters in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Photo: Ian Cheibub\/The New York Times<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Another propositive approach, Reuters<\/em> published<\/a> an article titled “Armed with Data, Slum Dwellers Demand Better Services<\/strong>,” showcasing how urban settlements in South Africa and Brazil, exemplified by LabJaca in Jacarezinho, are increasingly collecting their own data, recognizing the need to gather information to advocate for rights. Although the term ‘slum,’ which we have been insisting is inaccurate and not suitable to describe favelas<\/a>, is used here, it may be attributed to the inclusion of South Africa in the article. South African communities often use the term, referring to what in Brazil would be considered still improvised and yet-to-be consolidated informal settlements.<\/p>\n

In \u201c<\/b>Extreme Weather Events Only Serve to Deepen Brazil’s Inequality<\/strong>\u201d<\/b> in The Brazilian Report<\/em><\/a>, the Santa Marta favela in Rio’s South Zone serves as a backdrop to highlight Brazilian injustice regarding access to the most basic resource for existence\u2014water\u2014especially in times of extreme heat. Unlike the surrounding neighborhood of Botafogo, the favela went without water for six days. In a related story, Chinese CGTN<\/em> produced<\/a> a video report on how Rocinha residents face extreme heat<\/strong> without access to electricity.<\/p>\n