After being accused of promoting fake news about the tragedy in Rio Grande do Sul on Tuesday, the 7th, SBT issued a position note this Wednesday, the 8th. The floods in the state have already caused the death of 100 people, and 85% of the municipalities were affected. The program It’s time, presented by Marcão do Povo, which mixes journalism and entertainment, covered the state’s roads and, according to a report by Márcia Dantas, trucks with donations were being stopped by inspections for not presenting an invoice — a rumor spread among groups of WhatsApp and on social media — and for exceeding the permitted weight limit. In the article, interviewees, including a Civil Defense employee, claimed to have been notified and fined 200 reais. GloboNews and Record even made other reports denying the information. ANTT (National Land Transport Agency) also denied the information in a note published on social media warning that cargo with donations does not need to undergo inspection and tolls.
The report said that a bread company had been blocked. On the social network
At the It’s time this Wednesday, the reporter defended herself against the accusations. “The situation with truck drivers, something that we saw coming to Santa Catarina, really happened. The National Land Transport Agency issued a note saying that the fine will be annulled and acknowledged that the fine was made. But, if our journalism makes any mistakes, we will be transparent, we will put this information here and correct it, as this is our commitment. In this case, we did not spread fake news, we were not politicized. And it is important to make this very clear, especially because attacks are happening”, said Márcia.
SBT issued a position note on the accusations, stating that the matter influenced new measures by the National Land Transport Agency and that it is a non-partisan broadcaster. “SBT reinforces its commitment to the truth and highlights that the broadcaster’s entire Journalism department is guided by the premise of responsibility for information and society. The broadcaster does not produce or disseminate untruths and does not aim to politicize any matter conducted by the journalism team. Specifically regarding the tragedy that is plaguing the south of the country, SBT has adopted a public utility service stance, publicizing all actions to help victims and official donation channels. At a certain point in this work, our reporting team found official obstacles to the transit of trucks with donations to Rio Grande do Sul, and thus portrayed the facts, even as a form of warning to the authorities”, says the statement.
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“The information was confirmed today by the National Land Transport Agency and the result is the suspension of the fines applied, which was only possible after exposing the fact. The objective of SBT’s Journalism coverage of the tragedy in the south of the country remains to be a support channel for the local population, reinforcing everything that can be done to help people. There is and never has been a political link or objective. Committed to the truth, the broadcaster will continue working tirelessly to bring quality and credible information to the entire Brazilian population.”, adds Silvio Santos’ broadcaster.
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