November 7, 2020, Florianópolis – NSC TV reporter Barbara Barbosa and camera operator Renato Soder were threatened and assaulted while covering the pandemic lockdown in Florianópolis. The Coalition For Women In Journalism is appalled at this attack against journalists and calls on Brazilian authorities to conduct an investigation into the attacks and ensure the journalists' safety in the field. 

On November 2, 2020, NSC TV reporter Barbara Barbosa and camera operator Renato Soder were attacked and threatened by around nine unidentified men and women while covering the disobedience to Covid-19 lockdown restrictions in Florianópolis’ beach, Campeche. According to G1 coverage, the video indicates one man slapped Barbosa’s hand and a woman grabbed the journalist’s phone, while men took her wrists and restrained her. 

The journalists were covering a report on inspections about the Coronavirus outbreak on the beach, Campeche, during All Saints’ Day. They were surrounded by a group of people who disrespected municipal and state restrictions to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus. The group first threatened the camera operator to break his equipment and steal Barbara’s phone until they stopped filming the incident. 

After the brutal attack, Barbara showed her scratched wrists and expressed her apprehension about the event on her Instagram and quoted: 

“Feeling weak, helpless and unable to do my job in the middle of the holiday. I lowered my microphone, had the phone taken from me. But I did not stop using my voice to fight for what is the fact: to show the reality and defend good journalism.”

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is horrified by these brutal attacks against journalists and calls on Brasilian authorities to investigate this vicious attack immediately. We follow similar attacks against journalists closely during the pandemic, as many women journalists have struggled and have even been attacked while doing their job.