28 Aug 2005 (updated 28 Aug 2005 at 01:44 UTC)
»
Big Media in Brazil (Part II), and sad news for FOSS
Found this excelent article about the big media in Brazil; a must-read for anyone that cares.
I had previously expressed my feelings about the big media in Brazil, specifically concerning Free Software, and the Veja magazine.
But now that we're going through this huge political crisis, the subject has been on my mind like it never had. I hate conspiracy theories, but there hasn't been a day ever since the crisis started that i haven't wondered if this isn't a "big media game" to break down our current government.
They won't admit it, but fact is, the big media hates our president (Lula), and that article just goes to show they'd do everything to take him out.
The article is an analysis of how the Veja magazine (one of biggest here) treats social movements (Free Software anyone?), often with lies, made-up facts, even racism; and how they quickly change subjects to suit their political visions. If there's bad news about their "enemies", they'll bash it till the end. If there's bad news about their allies, they talk about sex, life, nature -- any smalltalk to "distract" the mass of readers from the problem.
The article also shows how the media in Brazil is extremely monopolized. In other words, you're always seeing the same opinions about a subject because all those magazines and newspapers you read, they all belong to the same few companies. They control what you see. Muppets.
And there's much more, read that article.
-------------------------
Sergio Amadeu leaves the government
Talking about the crisis and Veja, now it's official: Sérgio Amadeu has left the government. A very sad happening for FOSS in Brazil.
After the crisis begun, changes in the government made the FOSS campaign fragile. Up to the point Sergio Amadeu felt there was no point anymore in trying to go further with this cause in this government, i believe.
Oh, what does that have to do with Veja? Well, one of the main anti-FOSS guy in the government is the new minister Hélio Costa. Talk about FOSS and he'll say "no" and do all he can (and he has the power) to stop it. But what does that have to do with Veja? Guess what... the guy used to work for Veja! Small world, indeed. Now, enough of conspiracy...