Right of reply for journalists regarding comments on the website...
Even in this aspect, 247 innovated. It gives journalists the right of reply. This is a revolution in the Brazilian media, where the writer is always considered to have the absolute truth.
I couldn't wait until Monday to respond to the 247 commentators who accuse me of factual error in identifying the Deputy Speaker of the House, André Vargas, to whom I attribute the wrong political affiliation. He's a card-carrying member of the PT (Workers' Party). I wrote that he was a member of the PR (Republican Party).
The other day I ran into a large, imposing gentleman at the Chamber of Deputies, and someone next to me said, "Look, there's André Vargas?" Who? André what?
After all, there are 500 and I don't know how many "excellencies" crammed together there.
Divided into how many parties? Twelve, 18, 32?
Within the so-called government base alone, there are at least ten. Or am I underestimating? That, in a way, would even justify the change of acronyms in my original text.
I think no human being, not even Paulo Maluf with his prodigious and well-trained memory, could remember the names of all those excellencies.
I'll say upfront that yes, I did write a book about the aforementioned subject, which is generally very entertaining because it shows Maluf's own perspective on himself. It's interesting.
The cover and title were chosen by Duda Mendonça. The title is very Maluf-esque: "He". It sold over 8 copies, a success in the impoverished Brazilian publishing market.
If you find it in a used bookstore, buy it. It has great revelations about an "unforgettable type," that section from the old Reader's Digest.
But getting back to our topic, if there were 150 or 200 representatives of the Brazilian people in the Chamber of Deputies, that would already be a good number. Now, 500-something is too many. An exaggeration. Yes, not to mention the Senate.
I know this one better. I worked there for several years. I even served as press secretary for the PT (Workers' Party) caucus in the Senate – that's right, the PT – for a year, and I still harbor deep resentment to this day.
I never managed to receive a "good morning" accompanied by a smile, a friendly "how are you?", in short, a gesture of sympathy from then-Senator Mercadante, now the all-powerful Chief of Staff.
Whenever we crossed paths, the senator, dragging along that cloak of superiority (I imagined that was a habit exclusive to the PSDB party), would stand on his high heels and greet me curtly. I don't know why.
Having witnessed the inner workings of the Federal Senate firsthand, I can conclude: it is the most useless republican institution in this country. And one of the most expensive.
Regarding the Chamber of Deputies, a true political reform would be beneficial—which will never happen, of course—implementing a unicameral system in the country and drastically reducing the number of excellencies.
This would avoid the pushing and shoving, elbowing, and shoving in front of the microphone during sessions, just to appear on TV, as if someone were tuned into the Chamber of Deputies channel.
A physical renovation would give more space and a more decent feel to the so-called Annex 4, which has become a cluster of cubicles, a kind of hornet's nest, where dozens of commissioners and a few interesting secretaries are crammed together.
I confess I made a mistake. I confused the honorable congressman's state of origin, Paraná, hence PR, with his party registration number. There's a saying that to err is human. But to persist in error is not.
I made a mistake, but how many seasoned journalists don't occasionally make factual errors?
I would say that applies to everyone who has been working in the media for, say, ten years. And not just in Brazil. Worldwide.
I made a mistake, but I have some objective justifications that I would like to present to the commentators, in addition to others that are, let's say, circumstantial. Let's start with these.
I made a mistake, but how many seasoned journalists don't occasionally make factual errors?
I would say that applies to everyone who has been working in the media for, say, ten years. And not just in Brazil. Worldwide.
I made a mistake, but I have some objective justifications that I would like to present to the commentators, in addition to others that are, let's say, circumstantial. Let's start with these.
When Leonardo Attuch, in a chance encounter, asked me what I was doing, I replied: nothing, I spend my days lounging around at my magnificent "dacha" in Indaiatuba, a city that has a reputation for only housing millionaires, especially polo players and, more recently, rugby sevens players, an Olympic sport starting in 2017.
Attuch then asked me: why don't you write for 247?
It was as if a light illuminated me, a ray of sunshine directed especially at me. Exclusive. About what, I inquired? Anything, Leo replied.
Like, anything? 247 seemed to me to be a predominantly political website. And if there's one thing I'd hate to have to do again, it's writing about politics and politicians in general, including so-called specialized journalists.
Just to test if what Attuch was suggesting was true, I said: how about I write about football?
He retorted: fine, then write about football.
He, being an intuitive person, perhaps knew that by writing about football, I would be indirectly addressing political issues.
He retorted: fine, then write about football.
He, being an intuitive person, perhaps knew that by writing about football, I would be indirectly addressing political issues.
It's so true that the main topic on the political pages on Saturdays is the advertising campaign the government is going to run around the World Cup.
This, plus Pelé's statement that the Brazilian people should embrace the World Cup with enthusiasm, absorbing as much as possible of the life experiences, euros, and dollars that foreigners bring us. According to the King, the World Cup should be seen as a celebration.
And he suggests: enjoy the party. Then, if necessary, break everything.
If I were writing about football, I would inevitably be commenting on these statements. And since we're talking about football, I'll borrow a statement attributed to Romário about Pelé's offer: "He, with his mouth shut, is a poet."
This, plus Pelé's statement that the Brazilian people should embrace the World Cup with enthusiasm, absorbing as much as possible of the life experiences, euros, and dollars that foreigners bring us. According to the King, the World Cup should be seen as a celebration.
And he suggests: enjoy the party. Then, if necessary, break everything.
If I were writing about football, I would inevitably be commenting on these statements. And since we're talking about football, I'll borrow a statement attributed to Romário about Pelé's offer: "He, with his mouth shut, is a poet."
Romario, a colleague of André Vargas, has distinguished himself as the author of important projects, or at least has made courageous pronouncements against some of the interventions of the CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation) and FIFA in the organization of the World Cup.
And believe me, it's not easy to stand out among those 500-odd "excellencies."
André Vargas, for example, even after becoming vice-president of the House, has difficulty emerging from anonymity.
André Vargas, for example, even after becoming vice-president of the House, has difficulty emerging from anonymity.
The other day I ran into a large, imposing gentleman at the Chamber of Deputies, and someone next to me said, "Look, there's André Vargas?" Who? André what?
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After all, there are 500 and I don't know how many "excellencies" crammed together there.
Divided into how many parties? Twelve, 18, 32?
Within the so-called government base alone, there are at least ten. Or am I underestimating? That, in a way, would even justify the change of acronyms in my original text.
I think no human being, not even Paulo Maluf with his prodigious and well-trained memory, could remember the names of all those excellencies.
I'll say upfront that yes, I did write a book about the aforementioned subject, which is generally very entertaining because it shows Maluf's own perspective on himself. It's interesting.
The cover and title were chosen by Duda Mendonça. The title is very Maluf-esque: "He". It sold over 8 copies, a success in the impoverished Brazilian publishing market.
If you find it in a used bookstore, buy it. It has great revelations about an "unforgettable type," that section from the old Reader's Digest.
But getting back to our topic, if there were 150 or 200 representatives of the Brazilian people in the Chamber of Deputies, that would already be a good number. Now, 500-something is too many. An exaggeration. Yes, not to mention the Senate.
I never managed to receive a "good morning" accompanied by a smile, a friendly "how are you?", in short, a gesture of sympathy from then-Senator Mercadante, now the all-powerful Chief of Staff.
Regarding the Chamber of Deputies, a true political reform would be beneficial—which will never happen, of course—implementing a unicameral system in the country and drastically reducing the number of excellencies.
A physical renovation would give more space and a more decent feel to the so-called Annex 4, which has become a cluster of cubicles, a kind of hornet's nest, where dozens of commissioners and a few interesting secretaries are crammed together.
I doubt that a seasoned journalist like myself could ignore Mr. André Vargas, vice-president of the Chamber of Deputies.
He could even get more coverage in the legislative news. He should have the space that his position deserves, or even demands.
Of course, you would need to have some interesting idea or proposal to turn into a project.
He could even get more coverage in the legislative news. He should have the space that his position deserves, or even demands.
Of course, you would need to have some interesting idea or proposal to turn into a project.
* This is an opinion article, the responsibility of the author, and does not reflect the opinion of Brasil 247.