Daniele Alves Lopes
Daniele Alves Lopes was a Brazilian teenager who jumped to her death from an office building in São Paulo's central business district. She was 16 years old. The suicide was filmed in its completion by a Brazilian news show, Aqui Agora (Here Now) and shown on the SBT network. This broadcast lead to skyrocketing ratings, and a national conversation about the sensationalized, violent and amoral nature of the Brazilian media.[1]
Death
On July 5, 1993, Daniele Lopes, despondent from a recent romantic break-up, climbed out on a 7th story parapet of an office building where she worked as a receptionist. While contemplating her fate, police and a news crew arrived and started filming. The teen initiated, and the suicidal act was filmed all the way down to the pavement.[2]
When the spontaneous and unedited footage was shown on Brazilian national television, it caused a huge spike in ratings. Lopes' youth and broken heart may have romanticized and contributed to the interest in the incident.[2]
An edited version of the suicide was also shown on American television, with commentary.
Aftermath
The Brazilian psychiatrist Jacob Pinheiro Goldberg was a prominent critical voice of the broadcast, stating it may cause a societal desensitization effect,[3] and psychoanalyst Jurandir Freire Costa referred to the media as vultures. Other communication experts were also critical.[2]
In 1994, the Alves Lopes family reached a 1.05 million dollar settlement with SBT network for moral damage.[4]
References
- ↑ Brooke, J. (1993). "In Sao Paulo, The TV News in Real Time". The New York Times.
- 1 2 3 De Castro (2014). "Em 1993, Aqui Agora exibiu suicídio de adolescente e chocou o Brasil". Televisao.
- ↑ "Network Criticized for Televising Teen-age Girl's Suicide". AP. 1993.
- ↑ DA Reportagem Local (1994). "SBT é condenado a pagar R$ 1 mi a familia de menina que se matou". Folha De S. Paulo.