Brazil: Journalist Suellen Araújo Receives Death Threats Following State Secretary’s Social Media Post
The Coalition For Women In Journalism urges public officials to consider consequences of their online actions on journalists' safety.
Location: Brazil, Espírito Santo
Date: August 15, 2023
Journalist Suellen Araújo receives death threats and online harassment following a social media post by state secretary Alexandre Ramalho. The Coalition For Women In Journalism calls on Ramalho to publicly condemn the abusive treatment Araújo has faced due to his post and urges all public officials to recognize potential risks their online behavior can pose to journalists.
On August 15, Suellen Araújo, a police reporter, was targeted with a barrage of virtual attacks and death threats. This onslaught was triggered by Colonel Alexandre Ramalho, the state secretary for Public Security and Social Defense, who posted a video online of his interview with Araújo in which he defended a deadly police operation.
Brazil has long been associated with police violence, but in recent months, there has been a notable increase in police killings, prompting heightened scrutiny from human rights organizations.
On the same day, Araújo was harassed, journalist Danielle Zampollo was confronted by a military police officer in São Paulo who aimed a rifle at her while she reported on killings resulting from another police operation.
Brazilian journalists covering police news have also faced criticism for using disrespectful and stereotypical language when referring to suspects, and for their failure to thoroughly investigate police operations.
It was in this context that Araújo on TV Vitória questioned Ramalho about allegations that the deaths of five people in Morro do Macaco were not the result of a confrontation with police. The journalist referred to a witness as a 'boy' and the deceased as 'boys.' These allegations and Araújo's language choice sparked a heated discussion, which was further intensified when an edited version of the interview was posted on Ramalho's personal Instagram account.
The accompanying caption appeared to encourage negative comments about Araújo, with Ramalho writing, 'We will continue to do our part. As for the boys....boys....I leave the comments to you.'
Ramalho's social media platforms were flooded with hostility towards the media and Araújo. Some of the abusive posts, which were later deleted, contained profanity and sexual insults directed at Araújo. The journalist also received a death threat over the phone. To protect herself, she has closed her Instagram account.
According to Abraji, the Brazilian Association of Investigative Journalism, the incident is part of a wider pattern of digital violence against women journalists in Brazil. In 2023 alone, there have been at least 18 reported cases of online harassment, with 44% involving explicitly sexist and misogynistic attacks, including death threats and rape.
The press office of the Secretary of State stated that Ramalho's social media posts were purely informative and socially oriented, without any intention to offend or incite others. While the post was deleted, the explanation fails to acknowledge the harm caused by such posts and the potential for them to incite further abuse.
The incident underscores the power of social media and the potential consequences of public officials' actions on these platforms. The attacks on Suellen Araújo not only highlight the prevalence of online harassment but also emphasize the urgent need for measures to address and prevent such behavior.
The Coalition for Women in Journalism strongly condemns the harassment and threats faced by Suellen Araújo. Instances like these expose the vulnerability of journalists, particularly women, in their pursuit of reporting the truth and holding public officials accountable. We call on public officials to consider the impact of their online actions on the safety and well-being of journalists and to take decisive steps to protect press freedom and uphold the rights of journalists in Brazil.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.