A Comparison of Eight Global Outlets' Favela Coverage During Rio's

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FAVELAS IN THE MEDIA A Comparison of Eight Global Outlets’ Favela Coverage During Rio’s Mega-Event Years

1094 articles | 8 global outlets | 2008-2016

Research conducted by Catalytic Communities in Rio de Janeiro ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Lead Researcher Translation

Cerianne Robertson, Catalytic Communities Research Coordinator Kris Bruscatto, Geovanna Giannini, Leonardo Braga Nobre, Arianne Reis

Research Contributors Report Design and Production Lara Mancinelli, Nashwa Al-sharki, Gabi Weldon, Megan Griffin, Amy Rodenberger, Claudia Sandell, Aldair Arriola-Gomez, Nicole Peña, D29 | Luísa Ulhoa Sam Salvesen, Benito Aranda-Comer, Marcela Benavides, Gabri- ela Brand, Clare Huggins, Jody van Mastrigt, Ciara Long, Rhona Mackay, Alex Besser, Sophia Zaia, Chris Peel, Raven Hayes, Natalie Special thanks to SurveyMonkey for providing survey software. Southwick, Juliana Ritter, Mikayla Ribeiro, Ian Waldron, Emilia Sens, Wendy Muse Sinek (CatComm Board of Directors), Theresa Wil- For more information: [email protected]. liamson (CatComm Executive Director), Roseli Franco (CatComm Institutional Director) Contents

Introduction 5

Favela specificity 8

Overall impression 10

Language 13

Perspectives 16

Favela Portrayal 19

Favela Resident Portrayal 22

Perpetrators of Violence 25

Conclusion: Call to Action 28 5 Introduction

Rio’s favelas are among the most stigmatized urban commu- date back to Brazil’s economic dependence on slave-holding standing of the city and its favelas, and take substantial steps towards “View from the Favelas” series. The divergence from one outlet to an- nities in the world. As some of the modern world’s oldest in- systems, Brazil’s media traditionally issue an entirely negative shifting the narrative around favelas by producing thoughtful and nu- other—whether regarding the percent of articles that use “slum” as an formal settlements, today they constitute affordable housing slant on the city’s favelas. This view, also held by government anced coverage about them. While we worked to support journalists, alternative for “favela,” or the frequency with which an outlet fails to stock for 24% of the city’s population. Built and constantly de- officials, has historically been the dominant view adopted and advocated for more productive coverage, and regularly monitored identify a specific favela by name, for example—shows the potential veloped through collective action and individual investments reinforced by international outlets. In turn, media images of the best and worst English-language reporting, we also carried out a directions in which each outlet could adjust its practices, reduce its in spite of historical neglect by authorities, favelas are incuba- crime, poverty, and violence in favelas were, and continue to longitudinal media analysis of coverage of Rio’s favelas across eight own stigmatizing footprint, and contribute to a more nuanced global tors of culture and home to the workers that sustain the city. be, utilized by public officials to justify policies of public ne- major global news outlets from 2008 to 2016. Our analysis of the over- debate about the role and characteristics of Rio’s favelas and other By 2050, nearly one third of the world’s population is expected glect, eviction and repression. all trends during this time were presented in our 2016 “Favelas in the informal housing settlements. to be living in informal urban settlements, so the future devel- Media: How the Global Narrative on Favelas Changed During Rio’s opment of Rio’s favelas has the potential to influence develop- In October 2009, the International Olympic Committee an- Mega-Event Years” report. Catalytic Communities Editorial Team ment globally. nounced Rio de Janeiro as the host of the 2016 Summer Olym- pics. With the 2014 World Cup already scheduled for Brazil, it In this new report, we break down the data by each of the global out- Methods The Brazilian media have historically played an important was clear that Brazil, and Rio in particular, would receive inten- lets studied, in order to present a more fine-grained picture of how role in influencing perceptions of favelas and inspiring simi- sified media coverage over the course of its event preparations each publication treated favelas as a subject over the course of Rio’s Our data were collected by analyzing 1,094 articles that mentioned lar stigmatizing coverage around the world. As of 2014, just and celebrations. With that intensified focus on Rio came un- mega-event period. Journalists and editors of each publication can the word “favela” in the context of Rio and were published by The six families controlled 90% of Brazil’s media industry and a precedented international media attention to Rio’s favelas. view their own patterns and progress in comparison to those of other Guardian, The Telegraph, The Daily Mail, The New York Times, The Wall media monitoring website launched in April 2017 documents major outlets, as well as in comparison to the reporting patterns in Street Journal, USA Today, Al Jazeera, or Associated Press between Oc- how major Brazilian newspapers favor conservative politicians Catalytic Communities (CatComm) saw this period as an oppor- the small subset of articles written by favela residents themselves, tober 2008 and August 2016. For a more detailed explanation of our and ideologies. Reflecting elite sensibilities and interests that tunity for international journalists to develop a deeper under- primarily featured in The Guardian as part of their ground-breaking methodology, see our December 2016 “Favelas In the Media” report. 6

TOTAL ARTICLES FROM EACH PUBLICATION ARTICLES PER YEAR

Oct 2008 — Oct 2009 — Oct 2010 — Oct 2011 — Oct 2012 — Oct 2013 — Oct 2014 — Oct 2015 — Total of 80 Sept 2009 Sept 2010 Sept 2011 Sept 2012 Sept 2013 Sept 2014 Sept 2015 Aug 2016 articles 70

New York Times 5 13 17 21 21 44 15 45 181 60

Wall Street Journal 1 2 7 3 9 15 8 32 77 50

40 USA Today 0 0 1 1 1 6 4 16 29 30 Guardian 27 30 34 13 53 56 35 78 326 20

Telegraph 9 16 11 28 18 45 21 38 186 10

Daily Mail 1 8 4 4 9 24 23 56 129 0 Oct 2008 — Oct 2009 — Oct 2010 — Oct 2011 — Oct 2012 — Oct 2013 — Oct 2014 — Oct 2015 — Sept 2009 Sept 2010 Sept 2011 Sept 2012 Sept 2013 Sept 2014 Sept 2015 Aug 2016 AP 2 4 4 9 30 23 20 40 132

Al Jazeera 0 4 5 0 0 11 4 10 34

Total 45 77 83 79 141 224 130 315 1094 Al Jazeera Guardian Daily Mail Wall Street Journal

AP USA Today Telegraph New York Times 7

ARTICLES BY OUTLET

3.1%3.1% 12.1%12.1% 16.5%16.5%

Al Jazeera Guardian Al Jazeera Guardian 7% 7% 11.8% AP USA Today 11.8% AP USA Today 2.6%2.6% Daily Mail Wall Street Journal Daily Mail Wall Street Journal

Telegraph New York Times Telegraph New York Times 17% 17% 29.8% 29.8% 8 Favela specificity

Why is this important? Analysis

Specificity about favelas is important because Rio has more than 1,000 While all articles by favela-based journalists clearly identified the specific favelas and they are incredibly diverse. Implying Rio’s favelas are all the favelas being discussed, mainstream international reporters were not so same supports assumptions that a problem that exists in one favela must consistent overall. Below, outlets are ranked in order from best to worst exist in all of them, or that a policy or project designed for one favela will by the percentage of articles that discussed a named favela. They could automatically work for all. Instead, the diversity of Rio’s favelas—result- alternatively have been ranked by the percentage of articles that dis- ing from numerous decades of unregulated and thus unique community cussed a particular favela without naming it—something to be avoided development—demands that any policy or project respond to the varied when possible—which would have put AP and The Wall Street Journal as needs and unique potentials of each favela community. the worst offenders. 9

Favela writers WSJ AP PERCENTAGE OF ARTICLES 16.9 21.2 THAT DISCUSS...

49.4 39.4 33.8 Favelas in general 100 39.4 An unammed favela A named favela

Al Jazeera Guardian Telegraph Overall average 5.9 3.7 8.6 9.7

52.9 46.6 38.2 41.2 49.7 53.2

Daily Mail USA Today NYT 48.8 10.9 13.8 9.4

41.5 51.2 41.4 38.1 38 44.8 52.5 10 Overall impression

Why is this important? Analysis

While an individual article that highlights negative aspects of a favela Below, outlets are ranked by the percentage of articles that left an over- is not problematic by itself, the dominance of mainly negative articles all neutral impression of favelas, since favelas—like any communities— about favelas in the media does serve to reinforce stereotypes and im- have both positive and negative aspects. The best articles acknowledge ply that these communities offer little of value. A greater balance of neg- the complexities. The subset of articles by favela writers had the great- ative, positive, and neutral articles, in contrast, is important for showing est percentage of neutral articles, followed by The New York Times and that favelas—like all neighborhoods—have numerous assets to be val- The Guardian. ued, respected, and preserved. 11

Favela writers Al Jazeera Daily Mail PERCENTAGE OF ARTICLES 3.1 LEAVING EACH OVERALL 23.5 IMPRESSION 64.7 44.1 47.1 55 38 11.8 Positive Neutral

3.9 Negative before Negative 8.8 pacification, positive after NYT Telegraph AP

8.3 8.1 3.8 Overall average

56.9 43.5 46.2 53 37.1 33.7

6.1 1.1 2.2 3.8 43.5 Guardian WSJ USA Today

8.9 3.9 3.4

6.9 27.6 45.8 35.9 51.2 54.5 39 62.1 6.9

2.6 4 12

NYT Telegraph AP PERCENTAGE OF ARTICLES WITH 100 100 100

EACH OVERALL IMPRESSION 80 80 80

OF FAVELAS OVER TIME 60 60 60

Analysis 40 40 40 Daily Mail and USA Today each show a hint of more positive articles in the final year 20 of the study. It is interesting to note that several outlets portrayed favela pacification 20 20 as having a transformative impact on favelas in the middle years of this study. Fewer 0 0 0 articles in the last couple of years suggested this impact. 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 Guardian Positive Negative before WSJ USA Today 100 100 100 pacification, positive after

80 80 80 Neutral Negative

60 60 60

Overall average 40 100 40 40

20 20 20

80 0 0 0 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 Al Jazeera Daily Mail Favela writers 60 100 100

80 80 40 Data over time is unavailable as 16 of 17 60 60 articles by favela writers were published 2015-2016 20 40 40

20 20

Why is this important? Analysis

How we translate or define favelas to English-speaking audiences Although “slum” was the most frequently used alternative for “favela” matters because certain words like “slum,” “shantytown,” “squatters,” or in all outlets, it featured in just over 20% of articles in The Guardian and “shacks” carry immense negative connotations and, moreover, are sim- The Telegraph, compared to close to 40% in most other outlets and 82% ply inaccurate labels for favelas. More neutral terms like “community,” of AP articles. The Wall Street Journal and Al Jazeera used more neutral “neighborhood,” or even “informal settlement,” accompanied by rich de- alternatives to “favela” most frequently of the studied outlets. No outlet scriptions of the specific favela in question, make for more accurate re- came close to matching the data from the articles written by favela writ- porting. Read more and find productive examples in our “Why we should ers, 100% of which labeled favelas as “communities.” call them favelas” article. 14

PERCENTAGE OF ARTICLES WITH Favela writers WSJ NYT EACH ALTERNATIVE TERM 100 60 1 2 11 11

Community Shantytown 0 12 17 Neighborhood Slum Guardian Al Jazeera Daily Mail

Overall average 20 1 16 7

12 22 21 5

Telegraph USA Today AP 1 10

1 1 5 17 1 16

1 21 17 0 2 15

Guardian Al Jazeera Daily Mail PERCENTAGE OF ARTICLES 100 250 150 WITH EACH ALTERNATIVE 80 200 120 TERM OVER TIME* 60 150 90

Analysis 40 100 60

The Guardian and Wall Street Journal showed overall increases in the use 20 50 30 of “neighborhood” and “community” and overall decreases in the use of 0 0 0 “slum” and “shantytown” over time. Other outlets were more erratic. 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 Telegraph USA Today AP Community Shantytown 100 200 300

250 80 Neighborhood Slum 150 200 60 Overall average 100 150 40 100 100 50 20 50

60 WSJ NYT 400 100 Favela writers 40 350 80 300 Data over time is unavailable as 16 of 17 250 20 60 200 articles by favela writers were published 2015-2016 0 150 40

100 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 20 50

0 0 * Values do not total 100% as one article may use more than one alternative term. 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 16 Perspectives

Why is this important? Analysis

As residents of historically marginalized communities, favela residents’ Each outlet quoted favela residents more than any other single group. voices have long been silenced and underrepresented in the media. Yet Outlets are ranked here by the percentage of articles that quoted favela because favelas are self-built neighborhoods, residents have a partic- residents, from Al Jazeera which quoted residents in 44% of articles to ularly acute sensibility about community needs and strengths. Nobody The Telegraph which quoted favela residents in just 14% of articles. Fave- knows favelas—their challenges and their qualities—like residents them- la writers quoted other favela residents in 35% of articles, but of course selves. Quoting them is therefore a critical way to more accurately reflect 100% of their articles featured favela resident perspectives. realities on the ground, and to begin to reverse historic inequalities. 17

PERCENTAGE OF ARTICLES Al Jazeera AP NYT QUOTING EACH SOURCE 27 20

26 1 10 10 6 Favela Residents Government Police

Favela writers USA Today Daily Mail

Overall average 5 2 1

0 0 5 2

WSJ Guardian Telegraph 20

1 22 1

7 25 1 12 6 6 18

Al Jazeera USA Today Daily Mail PERCENTAGE OF ARTICLES 200 40 50 35 40 QUOTING EACH SOURCE OVER TIME* 150 30

25 30 Analysis 100 20 15 20 Most outlets saw an overall increase in the percentage of articles that quoted 50 10 favela residents from 2008 to 2016, although many followed an erratic path 10 5 over the years. The exception was the AP, which quoted favela residents (as 0 0 0 well as government and police representatives) in a smaller percentage of ar- 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 ticles in the 2015-2016 year than in 2008-2009. The Daily Mail, which did not WSJ Guardian Telegraph quote any favela residents until 2012, had the most consistently increasing per- 200 80 60 centages from 2012 to 2016. 70 50

150 60 Favela Residents Government Police 40 50

100 40 30

30 80 Overall average 20 50 20 10 70 10

0 0 0 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 60 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16

50 AP NYT Favela writers 200 50 Data over time is unavailable as 16 of 17 40 40 150 articles by favela writers were published 2015-2016 30 30

100 20 20

50 10 10

0 0 0 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16

* Values do not total 100% as one article may quote more than one source type 19 Favela Portrayal

Why is this important? Analysis

Media outlets often only cover favelas when reporting on drug traffick- All outlets more frequently portrayed favelas as sites of violence and ing and related violence, but studies show that 45-65% of favelas have drug/gang activity than as sources of culture or places with a sense no trafficking presence. Even in those communities with trafficking, less of community. This is in contrast to the articles by favela writers, which than 1% of favela residents tend to be actively involved. It is essential for most commonly portrayed favelas as places with a sense of community, news coverage of favelas to avoid perpetuating the notion that favelas while also discussing violence. Below, outlets are ranked roughly from are just sites of violence, drugs, and poverty. A more balanced portrayal best to worst in terms of the ratio of positive qualities (cool colors) of of both positive and negative attributes of favelas puts the pressure on favelas to negative characteristics (warm colors). While articles by fave- policymakers to develop more productive projects. It can also alleviate la journalists show a roughly 50-50 split between positive and negative the discrimination encountered by favela residents. favela attributes, negative attributes dominate each outlet’s articles. 20

PERCENTAGE OF ARTICLES THAT Favela writers Telegraph Al Jazeera PORTRAY FAVELAS AS*

Sites of drugs/gang activity Sites of drugs/gang activity Sites of drugs/gang activity

Sites of violence Sites of violence Sites of violence Places with a sense of community Sites of drugs/gang activity Unsanitary Unsanitary Unsanitary A source of culture Sites of violence Sites of poor quality infrastructure Sites of poor quality infrastructure Sites of poor quality infrastructure Sustainable models Unsanitary Sites of rickety housing 0 50 100 150Sites of rickety200 housing250 300 350 400 0 20 Sites40 of rickety housing60 80 100 0 50 100 150 200

Aﬀordable housing Vulnerable to natural Sitesdisasters of poor quality infrastructure Vulnerable to natural disasters Vulnerable to natural disasters NYT WSJ Daily Mail Flexible, organic, or mixed-use Sites of rickety housing 0 20 40 60 80 100 120

Places with a sense of community Varying (not all favelas are thePlaces same) with a sense ofVulnerable community to natural disasters Places with a sense of community

A source of culture A source of culture A source of culture

SustainableSites of drugs/gang models activity 40 SustainableSites of drugs/gang models activity SitesSustainable of drugs/gang models activity OverallAffordableSites average of violence housing 35 AffordableSites of violence housing SitesAffordable of violence housing Flexible,Unsanitary organic, or mixed-use 30 Flexible,Unsanitary organic, or mixed-use UnsanitaryFlexible, organic, or mixed-use

VaryingSites of poor(not allquality favelas infrastructure are the same) 25 VaryingSites of poor(not allquality favelas infrastructure are the same) SitesVarying of poor(not allquality favelas infrastructure are the same)

Sites of rickety housing 20 0 20 Sites40 of rickety housing60 80 100 0 50 Sites of rickety100 housing 150 200 0 30 60 90 120 150

Vulnerable to natural disasters 15 Vulnerable to natural disasters Vulnerable to natural disasters

10 Guardian AP USA Today Places with a sense of community Sites of drugs/gang activity 5 Places with a sense of community Places with a sense of community Places with a sense of community 0 A source of culture Sites of violence A source of culture A source of culture A source of culture

Sites of drugs/gang activity Sites of drugs/gang activity Sites of drugs/gang activity Sustainable models Unsanitary Sustainable models Sustainable models Sustainable models AffordableSites of violence housing SitesAffordable of violence housing AffordableSites of violence housing Affordable housing Sites of poor quality infrastructure Flexible,Unsanitary organic, or mixed-use UnsanitaryFlexible, organic, or mixed-use Flexible,Unsanitary organic, or mixed-use

Flexible, organic, or mixed-use Sites of rickety housing 0 20 40 VaryingSites of60 poor(not all quality favelas infrastructure80 are the same)100 120 SitesVarying of poor(not allquality favelas infrastructure are the same) VaryingSites of (not poor all favelas quality are theinfrastructure same)

Sites of rickety housing 0 30 Sites60 of rickety housing90 120 150 0 30 Sites60 of rickety90 housing120 150 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 Varying (not all favelas are the same) Vulnerable to natural disasters *Values do not total 100% as one article may include more than one favela attribute. Vulnerable to natural disasters Vulnerable to natural disasters Vulnerable to natural disasters

40 Places with a sense of community Places with a sense of community Places with a sense of community 35 A source of culture A source of culture A source of culture

30 Sustainable models Sustainable models Sustainable models

25 Aﬀordable housing Aﬀordable housing A ordable housing

20 Flexible, organic, or mixed-use Flexible, organic, or mixed-use Flexible, organic, or mixed-use

Varying (not all favelas are the same) Varying (not all favelas are the same) Varying (not all favelas are the same) 15

0 21

NYT WSJ Daily Mail PERCENTAGE OF ARTICLES THAT 100 200 200

80 PORTRAY FAVELAS AS, OVER TIME* 150 150

60 Analysis 100 100 40

50 50 Outlets either maintained similar ratios between the four favela attributes 20 over the years or exhibited no clear trends. 0 0 0 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16

Places with a sense of community Sites of drugs/ gang activity Guardian AP USA Today 150 200 100 A source of culture Sites of violence 120 80 150 Overall average 90 60 120 100 60 40

50 100 30 20

0 0 0 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 80 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 Telegraph Al Jazeera Favela writers 100 200 60

80 150 40 60 Data over time is unavailable as 16 of 17 100 articles by favela writers were published 2015-2016 20 40

50 20 0

2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 0 0 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 *Values do not total 100% as one article may include more than one favela attribute. 22 Favela Resident Portrayal

Why is this important? Analysis

Portrayals of favela residents are critical to maintaining or deconstruct- While most international mainstream articles focused on the pov- ing pervasive stigmas around favelas. Negative portrayals reinforce ste- erty facing Rio’s favela residents, those articles by favela writers fo- reotypes and perpetuate the kind of discrimination residents encounter cused on other aspects of their neighbors’ lives, such as their entre- when they apply for jobs or when they are handled by the police.. Con- preneurship or active participation in community projects or politics. stantly portraying residents as poor and uneducated paves the way for The Guardian and Al Jazeera came closest to portraying favela resi- top-down policies and aid projects that lack mechanisms for participa- dents as active agents of change as often as they portrayed them as tion. In contrast, emphasizing residents’ creativity and the initiatives they poor. Below, outlets are ranked by the ratio of negative descriptors of are already taking to improve their lives or communities allows for poli- favela residents to positive descriptors of favela residents. cies and projects that harness favelas’ positive assets. Furthermore, suggesting that most favela residents are unhappy (which may be popularly believed but is not statistically accurate) can serve as dangerous justifi- cation for policies like favela removals. Acknowledging that some favela residents have pride and value their communities despite challenges allows for better representations of the complexities of life in Rio’s favelas. 23

PERCENTAGE OF ARTICLES THAT Favela writers WSJ AP PORTRAY FAVELA RESIDENTS AS* 1 15 1 2 71 0 1 1 Entrepreneurial Uneducated or ignorant 7 Active agents of change Unhappy, miserable 1 Happy Financially poor Guardian NYT Telegraph Overall average 10 6 1 1 1 1 6 1 17 6 1 2 2 1

Al Jazeera USA Today Daily Mail 1 2 1 10 6 2 2 2 6 7 2

*Values do not total 100% as one article may include more than one favela resident attribute 24

Guardian NYT Telegraph PERCENTAGE OF ARTICLES THAT 80 60 60 70 50 50 PORTRAY FAVELA RESIDENTS AS, 60 40 OVER TIME* 50 40 40 30 30

30 Analysis 20 20 20 The Guardian, The Telegraph, and Daily Mail show clear trends towards 10 10 10 a greater percentage of articles portraying positive qualities of favela 0 0 0 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 residents. Other outlets do not show clear trends. Al Jazeera Daily Mail 150 USA Today 100 80 Entrepreneurial Unhappy, miserable 70 120 80 Active agents of change Financially poor 60 50 90 60

40 60 Overall average 40 30 60 20 30 20 10 50 0 0 0 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 40 WSJ AP Favela writers 150 150

30 120 120

90 90 Data over time is unavailable as 16 of 17 20 articles by favela writers were published 2015-2016 60 60 10 30 30

0 0 0 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 *Values do not total 100% as one article may include more than one favela resident 25 Perpetrators of Violence

Why is this important? Analysis

When reporting on violence in favelas, it is important to be specific and In the years 2010-11, 2012-13, and 2015-16, for the articles that men- nuanced about the nature of the violence. While drug traffickers do tioned violence in the context of favelas, we examined which actors commit violence in favelas, police do too: in fact, Rio is home to one of were portrayed as violent: residents, police, or both. Below, outlets are the world’s deadliest police forces. Furthermore, the existence of drug ranked from best to worst, with the best having the lowest percentage trafficking and violence results from decades of failed public security of articles that only portray favela residents as violent. The favela writ- policies and a lack of social investment in these neighborhoods. Re- ers subset fared the best, while USA Today fared the worst as two-thirds ferring to violence without providing context on the role of the police of its articles suggest that favela residents are the sole perpetrators of and State in favelas, therefore, risks implying that violence is inherent to violence in favelas. favelas and favela residents. 26

PERCENTAGE OF ARTICLES Favela writers WSJ NYT 26.9 IDENTIFYING EACH PERPEPRATOR 30.4 OF VIOLENCE 56.3 43.8 56.5 61.5 11.5 Only residents 13.0 Only state/police Al Jazeera Daily Mail Telegraph Both 20 26.9 Overall average 15 52.5 47.5 57.7 65 15.4

Guardian AP USA Today 26.7 33.3 33.3 40.4 44 45.3 54.9 66.7

27.9 15.5 11.8 11.8 27

Al Jazeera Guardian NYT PERCENTAGE OF ARTICLES 100 100 100

IDENTIFYING EACH PERPEPRATOR 80 80 80

OF VIOLENCE OVER TIME 60 60 60

Analysis 40 40 40

Although there is no clear trend in the percentages of articles that portray only 20 20 20 residents as violent, or articles that portray both police and residents as violent, 0 0 0 there is an overall increase in articles that portray only police as violent. This trend 2010-11 2012-13 2015-16 2010-11 2012-13 2015-16 2010-11 2012-13 2015-16 is largely driven by the increased attention paid to police violence by The New York Times, The Guardian, and The Telegraph. WSJ AP Telegraph 100 100 100

Only residents 80 80 80

Only state/police 60 60 60

Both 40 40 40

Overall average 20 20 20 100 0 0 0 2010-11 2012-13 2015-16 2010-11 2012-13 2015-16 2010-11 2012-13 2015-16

80 Daily Mail USA Today Favela writers

100 100 60

80 80 Data over time is unavailable as 16 of 17 40 60 60 articles by favela writers were published 2015-2016

40 40 20 20 20

0 0 0 2010-11 2012-13 2015-16 2010-11 2012-13 2015-16 2010-11 2012-13 2015-16 28 Conclusion: Call to Action

The dramatic increase in favela coverage that occurred across data points. As a result, just like favelas themselves, each outlet all eight studied outlets to publish more articles that leave a negative each of the eight studied mainstream international media out- has both strengths and areas in need of improvement. For each impression than those that are positive? All seventeen articles by favela lets is a positive legacy of the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olym- of these areas, our data proves that such improvement is possi- writers acknowledge the pervasive violence that does exist in the city pics. Extensive and diverse coverage of favelas is important for ble, because one or more of their peers is already doing better. of Rio and which disproportionately affects the lives of favela residents, correcting a history of largely uniform, stigmatizing coverage, but they also give substantial space to discussing favela culture, the ini- While the eight publications offer models for each other across which has been co-responsible for generating harmful public tiatives of favela residents to change their neighborhoods for the better, different data points, the subset of articles by favela writers offers policies. Negative biased coverage has long served as fodder policy critiques by residents, and the regular ups and downs of daily life. a noticeably different model. The differences between the fave- for top-down interventions that assume no aspects of favelas What prevents mainstream international outlets from doing the same? la writer dataset and the rest are frequently dramatic. While we are worthy of preserving, justifying policies that exacerbate in- are not suggesting that all mainstream articles must or should We invite journalists, editors, and other interested readers to contact equality, and, for example, legitimizing forced evictions and po- replicate what favela writers do, we do believe the stark diver- us at [email protected] or tweet @CatComm with the hashtag lice violence. Rio de Janeiro, however, is a city that cares about gence between mainstream trends and favela writers’ trends #FavelasInTheMedia to share your responses to these questions its global image, and international perceptions of its favelas and demands that mainstream journalists and editors pause and and other reflections on the report. Let us know how you plan to the city’s actions towards them can influence local politicies to- reflect on why these differences exist. What does it mean for change the way you portray Rio’s favelas. wards a more inclusive approach. With this influence, journalists foreign journalists to use the word “slum” and “shantytown” while hold considerable power and can help debunk pervasive stig- Don’t miss the recommendations for journalists we compiled on the articles by favela journalists prefer “community,” “neighborhood” mas and engage in critical, productive reporting. basis of our full 2016 report: and simply “favela”? If 65% of articles by favela writers leave a neu- Our results show that no single publication did everything per- tral impression of favelas, and more of their articles leave a posi- fectly, just as no single publication fared the worst across all the tive impression than a negative impression, what does it mean for 29

Recommendations

KEEP UP the attention. Our results show that the dramati- perpetuate stigmas about favelas continue to outweigh the VARY the topic. The majority of articles that mention favelas still fo- cally expanded platform for favela news and coverage during unambiguously positive articles that challenge those stigmas cus on fundamentally negative issues—violence, gangs, drugs, pov- Rio’s mega-event years proved a vital tool for resistance and and situate residents as potential agents of positive change. erty—at the expense of examining housing, community initiatives, community-building efforts across Rio’s favelas. From numer- Take a moment to consider what underlying impression your culture, activism and a variety of other topics that are begging for ous interviews with community leaders following the World work is creating for your readers and the ultimate impact this greater coverage, and which can provide insight to debates on the Cup and Olympics, we know that favela community leaders will have on the communities you write about. same issues in the newspaper’s home country. genuinely appreciate the opportunity to talk to international journalists and many feel that the spotlight provided has been SEEK beyond the outsider perspective. During the World Cup RESPOND to the growing international familiarity with the word a critical source of strengthen, bringing a critical new interest and Olympics years there was an influx of reporting from the “favela” (thanks to your work) by cutting down on the stigma-heavy and approach to social issues above and beyond what exists in journalist’s perspective without including favela resident per- English words like “slum,” which still pervades more articles than any the national media. spectives, and still a number of articles that asked for athletes or other alternative word for favela. celebrities’ opinions of favelas they barely visited. These stories “It’s really positive that the international press is giving atten- would have been much more interesting and relevant with the EXPLORE favelas beyond those that already receive significant tion to the communities, because the national media only gives additional perspective of residents on the issues that concern coverage. CatComm is always on hand to offer support for stories on communities attention when something bad is happening.” – and interest them. lesser-known favelas. Community leader from Horto.

REQUEST support from CatComm support and community EMPLOY community journalists to report on their own communities. RECOGNIZE your responsibility to provide a balanced por- contacts from CatComm that will provide perspective on stories trayal of favelas. The unambiguously negative articles that relating to their communities. We are here to help.