Brazil: Reporter Laura França Had Temporary Hearing Loss While Reporting Police Strike
Location: Brazil, Belo Horizonte
Date: March 21, 2022
TV reporter Laura França and other journalists were attacked with explosive devices while reporting a police demonstration in Belo Horizonte. Laura suffered temporary hearing loss after being exposed to the loud noise of explosive devices. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) is utterly dismayed by the attacks against journalists. We urge authorities to identify the police officers and conduct an investigation into the events towards the journalists.
On March 9, 2022 police forces gathered in a demonstration demanding a 24% pay raise for their salary. During the protest, TV Band Minas reporter Laura França and Caio Tárcia were exposed to unidentified explosives while reporting the protest. Laura and Caio had suffered hearing trauma, according to the news sources.
Correio de Minas reported that Laura had hearing trauma after the unidentified explosives exploded next to her and she will need other tests that will measure the extent of the damage. Laura and camera operator Nicanor Mendes were not injured by the explosives but reporter Caio Tárcia was injured. He was also verbally harassed while reporting the police strike and forced to leave the area.
Murilo Rocha, state news director of TV Band Minas, told the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) that Caio was deliberately targeted while reporting the demonstration.
Later, TV Band Minas published a condemnation statement about the incidents that took place in Belo Horizonte. The news outlet condemned the attacks against the journalists and urged security officials to ensure journalists' safety.
La AIR repudia y condena los hechos de violencia perpetrados contra los periodistas Laura França, de @TVBandMinas, y Caio Tárcia, de @RadioBandNewsBH, acontecidos el pasado miércoles 9 de marzo en la ciudad de Belo Horizonte, Brasil. pic.twitter.com/a44d0F7Hqx
— AIR - IAB (@air_iab) March 10, 2022
Various unions and press freedom organizations also published a statement about the events that took place in the city. The Brazilian Association of Radio and Television Broadcasters (ABERT), the Brazilian Press Association (ABI), the Union of Professional Journalists of Minas Gerais (SJMPG) released statements of the attacks against media workers. The organizations addressed the Brazilian authorities to take measures to ensure the safety of the journalists.
Previously in February 2022, journalists were subjected to similar attacks during the police strike. Police from different departments in Minas Gerais have been on strike for better wages and benefits. The police unions demand a 24 percent pay raise for the salary.
According to CPJ, security forces started an investigation about the protest in Minas Gerais, however, the suspects are yet to be found.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism closely monitors the incidents against journalists in the country with great concern. We urge the Brazilian authorities to ensure the safety of journalists' safety. The journalists must report freely and safely in the field.
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.
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