It doesn’t hurt to ask: for what reason have managing editors from the newspapers Estado de São Paulo and Folha only now made a fuss about the criteria of  Esso Award (Esso is Exxon Mobil’s Brazilian subsidiary) for excellence in Brazilian journalism?

Has anything new been secretly introduced, some alteration snuck in, in the quiet hours of the night, at the organization of an award that has been around for 49 years? [See below the letter submitted to the directors of the Esso Award organization.]

What would have caused the unprecedented partnering of the two giants in daily news?

As in all journalistic awards given out in Brazil, the Esso has significant flaws in its conception as well as rules. Media outlets that have been in the race for the traditional accolade never paid attention to such shortcomings.

They coped with the imperfections by habit; or because from them they could dig up some advantages. Were it not for the analysis of the Observatório da Imprensa (Press Observatory), the Esso Award could be considered impeccable. It’s far from that.

What’s changed? The new factor, the trigger, seemed to have been the Grand Award in Journalism, again handed to the Globo.

The protesters felt unfairly treated as to the decision, sensing a new conspiracy brought on by the Platinum Venus group (reference to Globo’s logo) in alliance with the old Standard Oil, and they blew the whistle.

Objective Agenda

The vigilance by competitors over the Roberto Marinho Organizations (Globo) is justifiable. The largest Brazilian media group needs to be closely watched, their moves demand rigorous scrutiny because of the impact that they can have on the nation.

Their crusade against Ancinav (project to create an agency to oversee cultural productions), for example, transcends the flaws of the proposed agency and tends only to their interests as supreme corporation.

But in terms of investigative journalism, the newspaper Globo leaves their rivals in the dust. While competitors are okay with the shady deals of Rio’s Governing Couple, the old daily denounces them.

Had the paper not made a hubbub, the infamous and embarrassing “kickback-pipeline” would have continue to drain government funds to the pockets of local political Mafia.

The paper also delved into thorny issues such as the fuel Mafia and their ties to the state agency responsible for environmental oversight; the use of the administrative resources in exchange for votes at the municipal election this year; the fraudulent schemes at Rio’s Department of Motor Vehicle; corruption at the Union Accounting Office, among others.

The awarded series of articles about the debauchery reigning at Rio’s City Council is an example. First rate investigative journalism, classic field reporting. If adopted as model to restrain the disorder in state parliaments it could decisively alter our political practices and personal behaviors.

The complaint Estado-Folha on the eve of the award’s announcement seems motivated by subjective reasons, perhaps fruits of the fierce backstage jury dispute.

Now that the game is over, protesters have an objective agenda on which to place just as much effort: to correct the structural flaws with the Esso Award, and, at the same time, to moralize the wave of awards—fed by marketers—that twists and corrupts the search for excellence in journalism.

The directors’ letters

São Paulo, December 10, 2004

To Esso Brasileira de Petróleo

To RP Consultoria em Comunicação

In Brazil and around the world, journalism is experiencing effervescent times. Directions, models, and procedures are being debated. Confronted by the competition among several news platforms, information consumers have changed and become more demanding. Like never before, they discuss journalism and question news media.

Sadly, we find that the Esso Award, considered a reference point in Brazilian print news, has allowed for such opportune debate to go unnoticed. Its current structure conspires against the merits of journalistic endeavors. The makeup of the body of jurors is not representative of the nation’s editorial market and tends to favor certain media groups.

With the primary concern of reaching quality in journalism, the Folha de São Paulo and the Estado de São Paulo express their disagreement with today’s working process of the award and suggest the discussion of substantial changes, so that the award can reclaim the degree of excellence.

Otavio Frias Filho, Managing Editor (Folha de S. Paulo)

Sandro Vaia, Managing Editor (O Estado de S. Paulo)

Alberto Dines, the author, is a journalist, founder and researcher at LABJOR—Laboratório de Estudos Avançados em Jornalismo (Laboratory for Advanced Studies in Journalism) at UNICAMP (University of Campinas) and editor of the *Observatório da Imprensa. He also writes a column on cultural issues for the Rio daily Jornal do Brasil. You can reach him by email at obsimp@ig.com.br.

Translated from the Portuguese by Eduardo Assumpção de Queiroz. He is a freelance translator, with a degree in Business and almost 20 years of experience working in the fields of economics, communications, social and political sciences, and sports. He lives in Boca Raton, FL. His email: eaqus@adelphia.net.

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