Isabela Scalabrini left Tv Globo today, after 44 years in the broadcaster. The information was disclosed by Ali Kamel, Globo’s journalism director, in an internal email to which sketches had access.
As he did with Elizabeth Carvalho, Ernesto Paglia, Chico Pinheiro, Renato Machado and Francisco José, Kamel recalled the journalist’s entire career at the station in a long text.
He tells in the email that Isabela looked for him in 2020, thinking of ending the collaboration with Globo. After postponing plans, the departure was scheduled for the end of January 2023. The director highlights in the text the sexism suffered by the journalist when she covered sports in the 80s.
In 1986, at the World Cup in Mexico, he accompanied Maradona’s Argentine team. She was virtually the only female reporter at the event. There she also heard many jokes from journalists of various nationalities. But it was to her that Maradona gave an interview, which began exclusively in the focus of the Argentine team, but which soon turned into a press conference with the rush of surprised journalists trying to reach her. Ali Camel
He also highlighted the journalist’s coverage: the Candelária massacre, the murder of Daniella Perez, as well as interviews with names such as Ayrton Senna, Pelé, Tom Jobim, Luciano Pavarotti, Kurt Cobain and “many others”.
“By greeting Isabela with this text, I underline my respect for her. And, on behalf of Globo, I thank her for the journalism she has practiced here: a pioneering spirit combined with high quality!” concludes the director.
Read Ali Kamel’s announcement, in full:
In 2020, just before the pandemic, Isabela Scalabrini came to me saying she was preparing to end her collaboration with Globo. She explained to me that she wanted more time for herself after 44 years in the station. We agreed to talk again, and did so the following year, with me giving a little hope that she’d changed her mind. Isabela stayed with us in 2021 and 2022, but she signaled that she was leaving. At the end of last year she contacted me and scheduled her departure for the end of January. I understood her reasons and we decided to make the announcement today.
In the conversation she told me a truth that should inspire all journalism enthusiasts: She feels fully accomplished and says she looks back and is just proud. You are right.
In 1979, Isabela attended university at night and worked at Rádio Nacional in the morning, as a street reporter. She was approved in Globo’s internship competition after taking general knowledge tests together with hundreds of candidates (almost like an entrance exam) and later, already in a smaller group, passing selective interviews with JN editors. Ten women were approved. The internship lasted about a year and Isabela went through all areas of journalism. The contract was signed in January 1980.
The first mission after hiring was to work in the electoral hall of Editoria Rio. He’s talked to firefighters and police officers on dozens of rounds on the phone—that’s where a reporter learned to ask questions. He did the first report for JN at that time. In the days of cinema, there was always a very small amount of film in the camera: but she made a “pass” and an interview without fail (“in a blue blouse”), she told me in our last conversation. Within six months, she had opened up an opening in the sports department and she’d moved. She was a pioneer.
In the 1980s, there were very few women in sports journalism, only a few in radio and newspapers. Al Globo, the journalist Mônika Leitão was supposed to participate in the Moscow Olympics (1980), but she resigned soon after. Isabela was thus, for many years, the only woman on our sports team. In stadiums, on matchdays, the crowd reacted with all kinds of biased jokes when they stayed on the pitch. The question I heard the most was: “Do you understand football?”. She didn’t go to the locker room, of course. It was the players who went to the door for registration. But she never failed to report any facts and was not disrespected by players or coaches. She never stopped doing sports journalism because she was a woman. Remember that it was Hedyl Valle Júnior who had the audacity to cast her for international coverage.
In 1986, at the World Cup in Mexico, he accompanied Maradona’s Argentine team. She was virtually the only female reporter at the event. There she also heard many jokes from journalists of various nationalities. But it was to her that Maradona gave an interview, which began exclusively in the focus of the Argentine team, but which soon turned into a press conference with the rush of surprised journalists trying to reach her.
At the Los Angeles Olympics it accompanied the arrival of the women’s marathon inside the Coliseum. She related the effort of the Swiss Gabrielle Andersen to finish the race: writhing in cramps, she didn’t let anyone touch her until she crossed the finish line (only then did she fall to the ground and was assisted ). The image is considered one of the most important in world sport.
And, at the Seoul Olympics, he conducted the controversial interview with the runner Joaquim Cruz in which he denounced the use of anabolic steroids by American athletes after the disqualification of Canadian Ben Johnson for doping. The interview had worldwide repercussions. Joaquim trained with them in the United States and, after being heavily criticized for accusing other athletes of doping, left the Olympics. He had won a silver medal a few days earlier in the 800m and had given up on running the 1500m.
There have been many unforgettable stories in sports coverage. Until recently I was called upon to speak about this pioneering spirit in football. After twelve years, she was invited to work at Editorial Rio in 1993. From that period, I highlight her coverage of the Candelaria massacre and the murder of Daniella Perez. Over many decades you have had the privilege of interviewing Ayrton Senna, Pelé, Tom Jobim, Luciano Pavarotti, Kurt Cobain and many others. And to know the world. Covering the Rio carnival was one of her passions. More than thirty years have passed live on Avenida! Several interviews made by Isabela are in recent GloboPlay documentaries, demonstrating their relevance and quality – Pepê, Castor de Andrade and Garrincha. It’s worth checking out.
In 1998, a turning point. He moved to Belo Horizonte, where he remained for another twenty-five years. He presented MG TV from 1998 to 2019 and, today, he is a personality from Minas Gerais, respected by all, standing in the streets, viewers recognize his professionalism. Day after day, always in January, she was in JN and placed in BH with his talent. A complete professional.
By greeting Isabela with this message, I underline my respect for her. And, on behalf of Globo, I thank you for the journalism you have practiced here: pioneering combined with high quality!
Thank you,
Ali Camel
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