Citizen Journalism in Brazil’s Favelas

Daily Life, third prize stories

February 7, 2015

Various electronic devices used by Papo Reto.

Police shootings in Rio de Janeiro’s favelas (urban shantytowns) are so common that they are seldom reported. According to Amnesty International, around 2,000 people are killed every year by Brazilian police, often in a manner that resembles a planned execution. In Complexo do Alemão, one of the largest Rio favelas, residents, frustrated by the lack of traditional media coverage, have formed Papo Reto (’straight talk’), a collective of activists who collate and distribute images and reports through social media.

Commissioned by: The New York Times Magazine

Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Photo Credit: Sebastián Liste

Sebastián Liste currently lives between his native Spain and Brazil.

He holds degrees in both photojournalism and sociology. His main focus is on long-term projects that mix his visual skills with his background in sociology, to explore diverse forms of community life. Sebastian was a recipient of the Ian Parry Scholarship in 2010 and his other accolades include awards from Sony WPO, POYi, Px3, NPPA and the Lucie Awards. His photographs have appeared in The Sunday Times Magazine, PDN, Time and FotoVisura, among others, and have been exhibited internationally. Sebastian is a member of Noor, a photo agency based in Amsterdam.