Alvaro Lima
(He/Him)
São Paulo
As seen in:
ACS Publications,
Gazeta Mercantil
Covers:
Economics, business, finance, markets, economic policy, corporate news, macroeconomic indicators
Doesn't Cover:
Entertainment, lifestyle, celebrity news, sports, opinion pieces
Gazeta Mercantil é um portal de notícias sobre economia, política, negócios, tecnologia, entretenimento.Acesse: gazetamercantil.com
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
My first job as a journalist was contributing to economic and business reporting, covering market trends and economic data.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes. Early exposure to typewriters helped build discipline around writing and editing, even though digital tools are now essential to modern journalism.
How is social media changing news?
Social media has accelerated the speed at which news is distributed and consumed, increasing access to information and real-time updates. At the same time, it has intensified challenges around verification, context, and misinformation, making rigorous reporting, source validation, and editorial judgment more important than ever.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Carl Bernstein from All the President’s Men, for representing investigative rigor, persistence, and the importance of holding power accountable through careful reporting.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Being a journalist means serving the public interest through accurate, independent, and fair reporting. It involves verifying facts, providing context, and asking critical questions so audiences can better understand events, decisions, and their real-world impact.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
#BreakingNews is often used humorously on social media to describe very minor or everyday events, which highlights how the language of news has entered popular culture.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
I prefer concise, well-researched pitches sent by email, clearly outlining the relevance to economics, business, or financial reporting. Pitches should include key data points, credible sources, and explain why the topic is timely and relevant. Promotional or unrelated pitches are unlikely to be considered.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Bloomberg and public data sources, spreadsheets for analysis, content management systems, and X (formerly Twitter) for real-time information and source tracking.
What's your favorite social network?
X (formerly Twitter).
Who do you wish followed you?
Policymakers, central bank officials, economists, and corporate executives who value data-driven journalism and transparent economic analysis.
Why did you become a journalist?
I became a journalist to help explain complex economic and business issues in a clear and accessible way, so people can better understand how policies, markets, and decisions affect their daily lives and long-term opportunities.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
Not formally, but I was involved in writing and research activities during high school, which helped shape my interest in news, analysis, and public affairs.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
In-depth coverage of Brazil’s monetary policy decisions, particularly stories explaining Central Bank actions, inflation dynamics, and their impact on households and businesses.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Focus on accuracy, data, and primary sources. Understand the subject deeply, question assumptions, and prioritize clarity over speed. Credibility is built over time.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Weekdays during business hours, especially in the morning. Timely and well-researched pitches tied to the economic calendar or breaking news are always welcome.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
A concise, data-driven pitch tied to a clear news hook, with exclusive or timely information and credible sources, aligned with macroeconomic or market relevance.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
Pitches that are completely unrelated to my beat or clearly mass-sent without any understanding of what I cover are the least effective, especially when they lack context, data, or relevance.
What's your favorite drink?
Coffee, preferably strong and without sugar.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Reading, staying informed about current affairs, or spending time outdoors to clear my head away from screens.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
I regularly read publications such as The Financial Times and The Economist for their in-depth coverage of global economics, markets, and policy, as well as their strong emphasis on data-driven analysis and international context.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
A common misperception about economics and business reporting is that it is purely technical or detached from everyday life. In reality, economic decisions, data, and policies directly affect employment, inflation, purchasing power, and business activity, making this beat highly relevant to a broad audience beyond financial professionals.
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