News

After the murder of journalist Renato Machado Gonçalves, 41 of Rádio Barra FM in São João da Barra (Rio de Janeiro) on 8 January 2013 UNI affiliate FITERT representing media workers reiterates its call for better protection of journalists and media workers. The union demands of the government to put an end to impunity and enter into dialogue with trade unions on protection measures.



FITERT - Federação Interestadual dos Trabalhadores em Empresas de Radiodifusão e Televisão - has continually alerted authorities regarding the permanent threat that journalists and media workers face in Brazil. After a series of killings in 2012, media workers mourn again the death of a colleague in the New Year.



Colleagues that carry out investigative work are systematically targeted. A survey conducted by FITERT in 2012 showed that 10 murders of media workers were committed as retaliation for their work. However, the majority of cases have not yet been solved. The only case where the investigation let to a result was the murder of radio F. Gomes, in Rio Grande do Norte. The report of the police confirmed that a "criminal consortium" is responsible of the murder of the media worker.



In September 2012, the government had announced the implementing a protection program for journalists and media workers. A working group under the Council of Defense of Human Rights started its work in October to come up with proposals to curb cases of intimidation, threat and murder of media workers. FITERT underlines that the government needs to enter into a dialogue with the representative trade unions of media workers and journalists over measures could effectively protect workers the workers.