In Brazil, a ban on practicing journalism without a government-approved diploma is on its way back. Not only is this baffling to foreigners, it may become part of the constitution. by Claire Rigby For anyone who has ever read Scoop, Evelyn Waugh’s classic satire on news journalism, or Michael Frayn’s Towards the End of the(…)
The Northeast – rich in more ways than one
By Dom Phillips There’s a lot of prejudice about nordestinos – people from the North East of Brazil – down here in Brazil’s South East, particularly in big cities like São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Their region has traditionally been poorer, and a lot made their way down here in the twentieth century looking for jobs,(…)
Bad news in the Amazon – in pictures – featuring good news
Earlier this year, I traveled into the North-Eastern Amazon in the Brazilian state of Maranhão to do two stories for the LA Times – One on deforestation, and one on modern-day slavery. Los Angeles Times – Brazil workers exploited as modern-day Amazon slaves Los Angeles Times – Amazon in danger as Brazil moves forward with(…)
Eike Batista’s fall – what does it mean for Brazil?
Eike Batista, the man who very famously loved being Brazil’s richest, has now famously become a symbol of the problems in Brazil’s economy. Should that be the case? In this profile I did for the Los Angeles Times, sources explain that his catastrophic losses this year were in part related to his, erm, shall we(…)
Contemporary Brazilian literature – Granta weighs in
A collection of work from 20 of Brazil’s ‘best’ young writers has set off a mini firestorm of discussion, including as to what Brazilian literature really is these days. By Claire Rigby As the Flip literary festival recedes into the past and the São Paulo Book Bienal approaches, last week’s series of post-Flip events included a(…)
Brazil vs. Argentina
A mostly pointless post in which I quickly and subjectively compare the two countries, and share some (slightly) juicy, but meaningless, gossip about glamorous Argentine President Cristina Kirchner. I just got back from Buenos Aires, and it has occurred to me to do a very quick post on the (very significant) differences between the two(…)
FLIP – Paraty’s Literary Festival
Performers on stilts and gringos on paddleboards were two of the unexpected, but wonderful, experiences over the weekend event which brings Brazil face-to-face with the world’s literary powerhouses. By Dom Phillips Wobbling atop a stand-up paddle board may not be the most conventional way to view a literary festival. But it’s certainly the most scenic.(…)
Corinthians take the championship – São Paulo explodes
The ‘people’s team‘ took the South American cup last night, and the continent’s largest city promptly began setting off more fireworks than most cities in the US did for Independence Day. Our gringo Corinthiano Dom Phillips reports on what it felt like. By Dom Phillips The weight of expectation was becoming unbearable even hours before(…)
South America’s football championship – the final
São Paulo’s gritty Corinthians will take on Boca Juniors of Buenos Aires Wednesday, in a rematch of last week’s thrilling tie. The match, set for 21:50 at São Paulo’s Pacaembu stadium, is the second of the two-part final that will determine the champion of the continent. By Dom Phillips One-nil down to Boca Juniors in their(…)
Brazilian Style
Presenting Cassia Tabatini‘s video of the 2013 Summer collection from Brazilian brand Neon. Which is the best, most original, and most Brazilian of all the Brazilian fashion brands? Recently, some kind of consensus has formed that Neon (pronounced Ney-ohhn) is currently representing what is sartorially most interesting in this country. I make no(…)
