Abraji Congress celebrates 20 years with debates on COP30 and journalist protection

By Lucas Thiago – From Cenarium

MANAUS (AM) – The 20th edition of the International Congress of Investigative Journalism, hosted by the Brazilian Association of Investigative Journalism (Abraji), kicks off this Thursday, July 10, and runs through Sunday, July 13, in São Paulo. The event marks the organization’s 20th anniversary and will take place at the Álvaro Alvim campus of the School of Higher Education in Advertising and Marketing (ESPM), in the Vila Mariana neighborhood of the São Paulo capital.

Abraji president Katia Brembatti emphasized that the congress is not only a moment of celebration, but also of reaffirming the organization’s commitment to the journalism profession. “We are arriving at our 20th congress full of energy, organizing an event that will bring together journalists and students from across the country to address important issues such as the climate crisis and COP30, as well as core themes of our work, like the defense of press freedom,” she said.

Katia also recalled Abraji’s role in honoring prominent figures in Brazilian journalism throughout the years at past congresses. “We want to take this opportunity to remember all the great names in Brazilian journalism who have been honored by Abraji over the years,” Brembatti noted.

She also highlighted the association’s engagement with causes such as diversity, representation, and inclusion—elements she considers essential in a country as vast as Brazil. “We have also embraced the fight for diversity, representation, and inclusion, which is even more relevant in a country with continental dimensions like ours,” she stated.

Programming

Spanning four days, the congress will bring together journalists, researchers, and students for debates on topics such as the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), violence against press professionals, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in journalism, and pension fraud.

One of the highlights of the program will be the participation of the Minister of Social Security, Wolney Queiroz, who will be interviewed on Friday, July 11, at 9:30 a.m., about unauthorized deductions on retirees’ and pensioners’ paychecks carried out by associations and companies—a case widely known as the “INSS scandal.”

Throughout the event, specialists and journalists working in technology, the environment, and local reporting will deepen discussions on democracy, sustainability, innovation, entrepreneurship, and other relevant topics. The program includes in-person, online, and hybrid activities, with lectures, workshops, and training sessions held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Marina Silva

The Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Marina Silva, will also participate in the 20th International Congress of Investigative Journalism. She will be interviewed on Friday by journalists Molly Peterson – a climate and environment specialist – Catarina Barbosa – an Amazon native and Abraji director – and Thais Bilenky – from UOL’s podcast A Hora.

The interview will explore expectations for COP30, Brazil’s role in environmental diplomacy, and the challenges of balancing environmental protection with economic development. Topics will also include transparency, international pressure, and the role of the press in covering climate policies.

In addition to the workshops, the schedule includes a dynamic panel featuring presentations of data-driven journalism projects, led by professionals from Brazil and abroad. One highlight will be the participation of journalist and executive producer at Al Jazeera, Laila Al-Arian, who will be interviewed about the role of the press in covering genocides and crimes against humanity.

One of the roundtables will focus on the transformations in investigative journalism over the past two decades and the outlook for the field in light of the advancement of Artificial Intelligence. The talk will be led by Abraji president and Estadão editor Katia Brembatti, who will also address the impact of the climate crisis on journalism agendas and the challenges posed by the rise of autocratic leaders worldwide.

Abraji

Founded 20 years ago, the Brazilian Association of Investigative Journalism aims to strengthen investigative journalism practices in Brazil, promote transparency in public affairs, and defend access to information and freedom of the press. The organization also works to foster civic engagement and disseminate investigative techniques and reporting practices.