Estadao

In 1875, in a Brazil still under imperial rule, a group of republicans including Francisco Rangel Pestana, Américo de Campos and José Maria Lisboa, launched a newspaper called 'A Província de São Paulo'. This was the genesis of what would become one of Brazil's most influential media outlets. A key innovation was selling the paper on the streets, a departure from the subscription-only model common at the time. This strategy, initially met with ridicule, was eventually adopted by all its rivals. In 1902, the Mesquita family acquired the newspaper, which had been renamed 'O Estado de S. Paulo' following the country's transition to a republic. Throughout its history, the paper, commonly known as Estadão, has navigated significant political and economic shifts in Brazil. It faced censorship during the Getúlio Vargas regime and again during the military dictatorship. During the latter, when articles were censored, the paper famously published poetry in their place. The company has remained under the control of the Mesquita family and operates as Grupo Estado. In the 21st century, Estadão has focused on its digital transition. In 2012, the company launched an initiative to digitize its entire archive, making over a century of news content accessible online. That same year, it also created a data journalism team to produce interactive content, demonstrating a commitment to adapting to the new media landscape.