Folha de S.Paulo

Folha de S.Paulo, often referred to simply as Folha, is a Brazilian daily newspaper based in São Paulo and the flagship publication of Grupo Folha. This media conglomerate also owns UOL, the country’s leading internet portal; the polling institute Datafolha; the publishing house Publifolha; the book imprint Três Estrelas; the printing company Plural; and, in a joint venture with the Globo group, the business daily Valor. Founded on 19 February 1921 as *Folha da Noite* by journalists Olival Costa and Pedro Cunha, the paper was initially an evening edition that prioritized concise, news-driven articles over opinion pieces, targeting the daily concerns of São Paulo’s working class. Success led to the purchase of a headquarters and printing press, and in 1925 the company launched a second title, *Folha da Manhã*. That same year, the cartoon character Juca Pato, drawn by Belmonte, debuted as a symbol of the common citizen, offering ironic commentary on political and economic issues. The newspapers criticized the ruling Republican parties and campaigned for social reform, even helping to found the opposition Democratic Party. However, after the 1930 revolution led by Getúlio Vargas, the *Folha* premises were attacked by pro-Vargas supporters, and Costa sold the company to coffee businessman Octaviano Alves de Lima. Under his ownership, the papers defended rural landowners and opposed Vargas, particularly during the 1932 constitutionalist revolution and the Estado Novo dictatorship. When the rival *O Estado de S. Paulo* was muzzled by authorities, *Folha da Manhã* became a leading voice of opposition. In 1945, ownership shifted again, with new partners including Clóvis Queiroga, who represented Count Francisco Matarazzo Júnior. Matarazzo financed modern presses and used the papers to attack his business rival Assis Chateaubriand, even slashing prices to undermine Chateaubriand’s Diários Associados. The strategy backfired, but partner João Nabantino Ramos soon repaid the debt and took editorial control. Since 1986, Folha has held the largest circulation among major Brazilian newspapers; in January 2010, weekday circulation stood at 279,000 copies and Sunday circulation at 329,000. Alongside *O Globo*, it is regarded as a newspaper of record in Brazil, and its news website attracts the most visitors among daily newspapers.