Agência Pública
Brazilian independent nonprofit investigative journalism agency.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Agência Pública is a Brazilian independent, nonprofit investigative journalism agency established in 2011 by journalists Marina Amaral, Natália Viana, and Tatiana Merlino. Based in São Paulo, it focuses on reporting issues connected to human rights, public policy, inequality, the environment, democracy, and the accountability of powerful institutions. Its work is intended not only to produce original journalism, but also to broaden access to reliable information and strengthen public debate. The organization operates differently from a conventional commercial news publisher. Its reporting is distributed free of charge and can be republished by other websites and platforms under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives framework as described by reference material associated with the agency. This distribution model is designed to increase the reach and public utility of investigative work rather than rely exclusively on a proprietary audience or subscription wall. In addition to its newsroom, Agência Pública has developed programs supporting the wider independent-journalism ecosystem. It has provided grants to independent reporters, helped incubate journalism initiatives, and created the Mapa do Jornalismo Independente, a project that maps independent media initiatives in Brazil. Since 2016, it has also operated Casa Pública in São Paulo, described as a cultural center for journalism and a venue for discussions, training, and public engagement around the role of the press. A notable project is Truco, a fact-checking initiative launched in 2014. Truco examined statements by politicians and other public figures when those claims became relevant to social and political debate. The project covered the 2014 Brazilian presidential election and the 2016 municipal elections, and was recognized among fact-checking initiatives receiving Google's fact-checking certification mark. Agência Pública's funding model has included support from philanthropic foundations, including the Ford Foundation, the Betty and Jacob Lafer Foundation, the Open Society Foundations, and the Oak Foundation. The organization has also used crowdfunding when specific reporting or operational needs required additional public support. This mixed nonprofit funding structure allows it to pursue investigations that may have limited commercial value, while also creating the need for transparency and editorial independence in its relationships with funders. The agency has received numerous Brazilian and international journalism awards. Reference material identifies it as one of Brazil's most awarded communication outlets in 2016 and notes that it became the first Brazilian media outlet nominated for Reporters Without Borders' Press Freedom Award. Its recognition has included awards for investigative, environmental, health, human-rights, online, and election-related journalism. The agency is currently led by Marina Amaral and Natália Viana. Its continuing role is that of a public-interest newsroom and journalism-support organization whose work is distributed primarily through digital channels.
History
Agência Pública was founded in Brazil in 2011 by journalists Marina Amaral, Natália Viana, and Tatiana Merlino. From its beginning, the organization defined itself through independent investigative journalism rather than daily commercial news production. Its stated public-interest orientation centers on the right to information, democratic debate, human rights, and reporting on subjects that can be overlooked by mainstream media or are difficult to investigate through advertising-driven models. The agency developed a digital-first publishing and distribution model. Its reports are made available without charge and are intended to be republished by other websites and platforms under a Creative Commons license. This approach gives the journalism a wider public circulation and allows partner outlets to carry investigations that might otherwise remain limited to the agency's own audience. The model also reflects the organization's nonprofit identity: the central asset is the reporting and its social impact, rather than exclusive control over access. As Agência Pública matured, it expanded beyond its own newsroom. It began distributing grants to independent reporters, supporting the incubation of journalism initiatives, and documenting Brazil's independent media through the Independent Journalism Map, launched in 2016. These activities positioned the organization as both a publisher and an infrastructure provider for the broader independent-journalism field. In 2014, the agency established Truco, a fact-checking project focused on claims by politicians and other public figures. Truco assessed statements that were influential in public debate and covered Brazil's 2014 presidential elections and 2016 municipal elections. The project formed part of a wider international movement toward structured verification of political claims and was listed among fact-checking projects receiving Google's fact-checking certification mark. The agency also created a physical public-facing presence. In 2016 it began operating Casa Pública in São Paulo, described in reference material as Brazil's first cultural center dedicated to journalism. The space broadened the organization's activities into events, discussion, and public education, linking investigative reporting with conversations about media, democracy, and society. Funding has come from philanthropic sources rather than a conventional commercial ownership structure. Named supporters include the Ford Foundation, the Betty and Jacob Lafer Foundation, the Open Society Foundations, and the Oak Foundation. The organization has also turned to crowdfunding when necessary. No parent company, listed securities, or commercial owner is identified in the supplied reference material. Agência Pública's reporting has received extensive recognition in Brazil. Its awards have covered environmental journalism, health journalism, human-rights reporting, online journalism, election-related work, and investigative writing. Reference material lists honors received from 2012 through 2016, including the Vladimir Herzog Award, the Gabriel García Márquez Award, the Comunique-se Award, the Online Journalism Awards, and several Brazilian journalism prizes. In 2016, Natália Viana was identified as a particularly highly awarded reporter. The organization was also described as the first Brazilian media outlet nominated for the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Award. The agency remains active as an independent nonprofit journalism organization. Marina Amaral and Natália Viana are identified as its current leaders in the supplied material. Its ongoing scope combines original investigations, fact-checking, open content distribution, support for independent reporters, and public engagement through Casa Pública.
- 2016
Independent Journalism Map and Casa Pública
[1]Agência Pública launched the Independent Journalism Map and began operating Casa Pública in São Paulo.
- 2016
Major awards and press-freedom recognition
[1]Reference material lists numerous awards received by the agency and identifies it as the first Brazilian media outlet nominated for the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Award.
- 2015
Expansion of award recognition
[1]The agency received recognition including the Tim Lopes Award, the Petrobras Journalism Award, the Roche Health Journalism Award, an Online Journalism Award, and the Human Rights Journalism Award.
- 2014
Truco launched
[1]The organization launched Truco, a project dedicated to checking claims by politicians and public figures.
- 2013
Further national awards
[1]Agência Pública received the HSBC–Jornalistas & Cia Journalism Award and the Troféu Mulher Imprensa.
- 2012
Early journalism recognition
[1]The agency received recognition including the HSBC–Jornalistas & Cia Environmental Journalism Award, the Allianz Seguros Environmental Journalism Award, and the Human Rights Journalism Award.
- 2011
Agency founded
[1]Marina Amaral, Natália Viana, and Tatiana Merlino founded Agência Pública as an independent Brazilian investigative journalism organization.
Products and positioning
Independent, nonprofit, public-interest investigative journalism with open digital distribution and support for Brazil's broader independent-media ecosystem.
Journalism · 2011
Investigative reporting
Agência Pública's core offering is original investigative journalism on public-interest subjects, including human rights, democracy, public policy, social inequality, environmental issues, and institutional accountability. Reports are distributed digitally and made available for free republication, allowing other outlets and platforms to extend their reach.
Fact-checking · 2014
Truco
Truco is the agency's fact-checking project, established in 2014 to examine statements by politicians and other public figures when those claims are relevant to public discussion. Its documented work included verification during Brazil's 2014 presidential election and 2016 municipal elections.
Journalism research · 2016
Independent Journalism Map
The Independent Journalism Map documents independent journalism initiatives in Brazil. It forms part of Agência Pública's effort to strengthen and make visible the country's nontraditional media ecosystem.
Cultural and educational center · 2016
Casa Pública
Casa Pública is a São Paulo journalism cultural center operated by Agência Pública since 2016. It provides a physical setting for public conversations, journalism-related activities, and engagement with questions concerning media and democracy.
Funding and capacity building
Independent journalism grants
The organization has distributed grants to independent reporters and supported the incubation of journalism initiatives. These programs extend Agência Pública's mission beyond publishing its own work and help strengthen investigative capacity in Brazil.
Brand decisions
2016
Expansion into journalism-sector supportStrategyBackground
The agency sought to contribute to the resilience and visibility of independent journalism beyond its own reporting operation.
Action taken
It launched the Independent Journalism Map and continued grant-making and incubation support for independent reporters and journalism initiatives.
Aftermath
Agência Pública developed a broader role as both a newsroom and a support institution for Brazil's independent media ecosystem.
2016
Opening of Casa PúblicaStrategyBackground
The agency was extending its public-interest mission from online reporting into public education and direct engagement.
Action taken
Agência Pública began operating Casa Pública, a journalism-focused cultural center in São Paulo.
Aftermath
The organization gained a physical venue for journalism discussions and cultural programming in addition to its digital publishing activities.
2014
Creation of the Truco fact-checking projectProduct launchBackground
Political claims and statements by public figures were becoming increasingly important to public debate and election coverage.
Action taken
Agência Pública established Truco to investigate and assess relevant statements, including claims made during national and municipal election cycles.
Aftermath
Truco became a recognized component of the agency's public-interest journalism work and received Google's fact-checking certification mark according to the supplied reference material.
Recent events
- 2016
Independent Journalism Map introduced[1]
Product launch
The organization launched a mapping initiative documenting independent journalism projects in Brazil as part of its support for the country's nontraditional media sector.
- 2016
Casa Pública opened in São Paulo[1]
Other
Agência Pública began operating Casa Pública, a journalism-focused cultural center intended to host public activities and encourage discussion about journalism.
- 2016
Agência Pública recognized among Brazil's most awarded communication outlets[1]
Other
Reference material identifies the agency as the third most awarded Brazilian communication outlet in 2016, an unusual distinction for an independent publication.
- 2014
Truco fact-checking project launched[1]
Product launch
Agência Pública created Truco to examine claims made by politicians and other public figures during important public debates.
- 2011
Agência Pública founded as an independent investigative journalism agency[1]
Other
Marina Amaral, Natália Viana, and Tatiana Merlino established Agência Pública in Brazil with a focus on independent, public-interest investigative reporting.
Sources2 sources
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