1. 9th International Symposium9th International Symposium
On Online JournalismOn Online Journalism
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Multimedia and InteractivityMultimedia and Interactivity
A Brazilian experience:A Brazilian experience:
25,000 politicians and their personal assets25,000 politicians and their personal assets
Fernando RodriguesFernando Rodrigues
International Nieman Fellow (2007/2008) (International Nieman Fellow (2007/2008) (www.nieman.harvard.eduwww.nieman.harvard.edu))
Abraji (Brazilian Association of Investigative Journalism) (Abraji (Brazilian Association of Investigative Journalism) (www.abraji.org.brwww.abraji.org.br))
Avaya Auditorium - ACES (Applied Engineering & Computational Sciences
The University of Texas at Austin
April 4, 2008

2. Contextualizing the world’s asymmetry…Contextualizing the world’s asymmetry…
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3. North America: Africa:North America: Africa:
Europe: Asia:Europe: Asia:
South America: Middle East:South America: Middle East:
Internet users in selected regions of the world: crucial differencesInternet users in selected regions of the world: crucial differences
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4. Brazil: 186 million inhabitantsBrazil: 186 million inhabitants
Full democracy (since 1985)Full democracy (since 1985)
42.6 million Internet users (46.3% of S.A.)42.6 million Internet users (46.3% of S.A.)
100% digital elections.100% digital elections.
No Freedom of Information lawNo Freedom of Information law
Brazilian backgroundBrazilian background
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5. Growth rate ofGrowth rate of
BraziliansBrazilians
connected toconnected to
the Internetthe Internet
(2000-2007):(2000-2007):
752%752%
But only 22.4%But only 22.4%
of Braziliansof Brazilians
are connectedare connected

6. ““Políticos do Brasil”Políticos do Brasil”__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
www.politicosdobrasil.com.brwww.politicosdobrasil.com.br
(Politicians from Brazil)(Politicians from Brazil)
Mixed objectives:Mixed objectives:
- build up a database mashup- build up a database mashup
- produce good investigative stories.- produce good investigative stories.
- offer readers a tool they can use.- offer readers a tool they can use.
- increase the newspaper’s online ventures.- increase the newspaper’s online ventures.
- be more competitive in the online world.- be more competitive in the online world.

7. ““Políticos do Brasil”Políticos do Brasil”----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Politicians from Brazil:Politicians from Brazil: www.politicosdobrasil.com.brwww.politicosdobrasil.com.br
Project began in 2000 (data collecting).Project began in 2000 (data collecting).
Released in 2002Released in 2002
More than 25,000 politicians listedMore than 25,000 politicians listed
Free search website - entirely open to the publicFree search website - entirely open to the public
In 2006, when it was updated for the last time, it receivedIn 2006, when it was updated for the last time, it received
more than 1 million visitors on that single day.more than 1 million visitors on that single day.

8. multi-task projectmulti-task project__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Journalism - source of news stories for theJournalism - source of news stories for the
newspaper “Folha de S.Paulo”.newspaper “Folha de S.Paulo”.
Checking individuals records (no FoIA in BrazilChecking individuals records (no FoIA in Brazil
neither in major countries in LA)neither in major countries in LA)
Particular interest in election filesParticular interest in election files
(assets lists of everyone who runs for a public office)(assets lists of everyone who runs for a public office)
Extensive use of CARExtensive use of CAR (Computer Assisted Reporting… an(Computer Assisted Reporting… an
entrance door to online journalism.entrance door to online journalism.
Comparison of official data with real life –Comparison of official data with real life –
holding politicians accountableholding politicians accountable (which generated tens(which generated tens
of news stories for a variety of newspapers around the country)of news stories for a variety of newspapers around the country)

9. ““Políticos” homepagePolíticos” homepage

10. presidential candidates - 2006presidential candidates - 2006

11. Lula – winner in 2006Lula – winner in 2006

12. Lula’s assets in 2006Lula’s assets in 2006

13. participatory journalismparticipatory journalism--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
““Folha” alone could not run the stories on allFolha” alone could not run the stories on all
25,000 politicians25,000 politicians
Availability of information online prompted someAvailability of information online prompted some
participatory journalismparticipatory journalism
Readers started to call reporting inconsistenciesReaders started to call reporting inconsistencies
between politicians’ with records and real lifebetween politicians’ with records and real life
Other newspapers also benefited from using theOther newspapers also benefited from using the
database to check for information that would notdatabase to check for information that would not
be available otherwisebe available otherwise

14. ResultsResults--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Higher degree of accountabilityHigher degree of accountability
Politicians were scrutinized in a way they hadPoliticians were scrutinized in a way they had
never been before.never been before.
Several “extra-Folha” stories were generated bySeveral “extra-Folha” stories were generated by
competitor news outlets because of thecompetitor news outlets because of the
“Politicos” database“Politicos” database

15. One example of a politicianOne example of a politician
being held accountablebeing held accountable
Former governor of Maranhão State JoséFormer governor of Maranhão State José
Reinaldo Tavares (2002-2006) and former vice-Reinaldo Tavares (2002-2006) and former vice-
governor (1998-2002)governor (1998-2002)
His assets retrieved from “Políticos”:His assets retrieved from “Políticos”:
In 1998, he had declared R$ 388,921,10In 1998, he had declared R$ 388,921,10
In 2002 – total assets: R$ 549,270,10In 2002 – total assets: R$ 549,270,10
% change from 1998 to 2002: 41.2%% change from 1998 to 2002: 41.2%
But… when he was about to leave office…But… when he was about to leave office…

16. José Reinaldo’s records:José Reinaldo’s records:

17. Governor official assets in 1998Governor official assets in 1998
(R$ 388,921,10)(R$ 388,921,10)

18. Governor official assets in 2002Governor official assets in 2002
(R$ 549,270.10)(R$ 549,270.10)

19. In 2002 – total assets: R$ 549,270,10In 2002 – total assets: R$ 549,270,10
In 1998, he had declared R$ 388,921,10In 1998, he had declared R$ 388,921,10
% change from 1998 to 2002: 41.2%% change from 1998 to 2002: 41.2%
But… when he was about to leave office…But… when he was about to leave office…
Governor’s summary:Governor’s summary:

20. Last year in office (2006)Last year in office (2006)
bought a penthouse:bought a penthouse:
R$ 3,000,000.00R$ 3,000,000.00

21. …… former governor was is currentlyformer governor was is currently
facing charges of tax evasionfacing charges of tax evasion
Big scandal (May 23Big scandal (May 23rd,rd,
2007)…2007)…

22. Another example: in Rio, a politician declared justAnother example: in Rio, a politician declared just
a regular house,a regular house,
but see what “O Globo’s” reporters found...but see what “O Globo’s” reporters found...

23. The “million dollar club” in RioThe “million dollar club” in Rio

24. Newspapers regularly publish the evolution of theNewspapers regularly publish the evolution of the
assets of every politicianassets of every politician
source: “O Globo”source: “O Globo”

25. Rio’s “Tribuna”Rio’s “Tribuna”
published a storypublished a story
this January (2008)this January (2008)

26. Thank you
Políticos do Brasil website (www.politicosdobrasil.com.br)
E-mail: frodriguesbsb@uol.com.br and
fernando_rodrigues@harvard.edu
Abraji (Brazilian Association of Investigative Journalism) (
www.abraji.org.br)
“Folha de S.Paulo” (www.folha.com.br)