Otavio Frias Filho

Who is Otavio Frias Filho?

Otavio Frias Filho was born in São Paulo on June 7, 1957, and is Folha de S.Paulo’s editorial director since 1984, as well as Grupo Folha’s editorial director.

Eldest son of Octavio Frias de Oliveira, an entrepreneur who bought the company responsible for Folha in 1962, Frias Filho started to work for the newspaper in 1975, writing editorials and helping out journalist Cláudio Abramo, who headed the newsroom. He took part in the editorial reforms conducted by Octavio Frias and Abramo during that period, which resulted in opening Folha’s pages to political and intellectual figures of all stripes, taking advantage of the political opening then being promoted by the military regime. This pluralistic viewpoint earned respect for Folha and brought it closer to the civilian society.

As newsroom director, Frias Filho systematized and developed the newspaper’s experiences during the political opening and Diretas Já periods. A series of documents circulated periodically defined the newspaper’s editorial project as part of the so-called Projeto Folha, defined by critical, unbiased and pluralistic news coverage. Those same principles oriented Folha’s Newsroom Manual, launched in 1984 and updated on several occasions since. More than a style guide, it serves as a guide to the rules and commitments Folha works under. It was the first publication of its kind to be made available to the general public in Brazil.