Roberto Civita
Roberto F. Civita | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Milan, Italy |
| Died | May 26, 2013 (aged 76) |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, publisher |
| Known for | President and Editorial Director of Grupo Abril |
Roberto F. Civita (9 August 1936 – 26 May 2013) was a prominent Brazilian entrepreneur and publisher. Originally from Italy, he and his family relocated to New York in 1938 to avoid the repercussions of the Race Laws, subsequently settling in Brazil in 1949. There, his father, Victor Civita, established Editora Abril, which grew into a leading publishing firm.
After completing his studies in the United States, Civita joined the family enterprise during the 1960s. He was instrumental in transforming Grupo Abril into one of the foremost publishing groups in Brazil. He assumed the presidency in 1982 and took over full operational leadership by 1990, holding the positions of chairman of the Board and Editorial Director.
In addition to his business responsibilities, Civita headed various educational foundations and was involved in governance at the Lauder Institute as well as serving on the Advisory Board of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Furthermore, he was a member of the Board of Overseers for the International Center for Economic Growth, based in Panama.
Early life and education
Born on 9 August 1936 in Milan, Italy, Roberto Civita was the son of Sylvana and Victor Civita, who worked in publishing. The family emigrated to New York City in 1938 due to Italy’s Race Laws, later moving to São Paulo, Brazil, in 1949 where Victor launched Editora Abril. The company initially specialized in licensed comic books, including titles like Donald Duck starting in 1950.
Civita initially pursued studies in nuclear physics at Rice University in Texas but redirected his academic focus to journalism, earning a degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He further completed a graduate program in economics at its Wharton School and also obtained a sociology degree from Columbia University. His professional training included experience at Time Inc..
Marriage and family
He married Leila Francini from São Paulo, with whom he had three children: two sons, Giancarlo and Victor Civita Neto, and a daughter. Subsequently, he married Maria Antônia Neto.
Career
Upon returning to Brazil during the mid-1960s, Civita assumed leadership roles within Editora Abril, initiating substantial changes aimed at promoting rigorous fact-checking and editorial autonomy within Brazilian journalism.
Under his direction, Abril introduced specialized magazines such as Quatro Rodas (automobiles), Claudia and Manequim (targeting women), Exame (business), as well as Realidade and Superinteressante (science and culture). He held the position of Editor-in-Chief for their flagship publication, Veja, since its launch in 1968. The magazine Realidade set new standards for editorial independence. The company also shifted its sales strategy toward subscriptions to lessen dependence on newsstand distribution.
During Brazil's military regime (1964–1985), Civita faced censorship pressures and made certain concessions to sustain operations. Co-founder Mino Carta reported severe censorship issues at Veja between 1969 and 1976, culminating with his exit following government pressure. It was alleged that the military insisted on his dismissal as a condition for securing a US$50 million loan from the state-owned bank Caixa Econômica Federal.
In 1982, Civita took over as president of Grupo Abril, one of Brazil’s largest publishing houses, fully assuming control after his father’s passing in 1990. By the time of his death, he had amassed multibillionaire status.
Controversies
Years later, both Civita and Carta stood by their editorial choices concerning Veja during the 1970s. In a 2007 statement, Civita clarified that Veja was never intended to "appeal to everyone," despite facing criticism for political articles perceived as editorializing. He stressed that the magazine's direction was independent of pressures from advertisers or government entities, stating, "Our magazines are created for readers, not to satisfy advertisers, the government, or acquaintances."
In that same interview, Civita admitted he did not object to journalists utilizing information obtained through wiretaps, even if those were unauthorized, with his legal team providing guidance on the boundaries of publication. While internal discussions about this approach were possible, they seldom took place.
A 2012 inquiry by Brazilian Federal Police, which employed authorized wiretaps, uncovered that Policarpo Jr., the head of Veja’s Brasília office and a frequent contact of criminal figure Carlinhos Cachoeira, had orchestrated illegal surveillance on politicians affiliated with the ruling Workers Party to supply material for reporters.
Subsequently, in May 2012, Mino Carta’s CartaCapital published an article drawing parallels between Civita and British media magnate Rupert Murdoch, citing Civita’s significant influence over Brazilian media and controversial tactics. This development occurred amid the high-profile CPMI do Cachoeira, a parliamentary investigation examining Carlinhos Cachoeira’s criminal network and connections to politicians opposing the Workers Party.
In retaliation, Rio de Janeiro’s newspaper O Globo, owned by the Marinho family’s extensive media empire—the largest in Brazil—published an editorial asserting: "Roberto Civita is not Rupert Murdoch." The piece accused pro-government blogs and media aligned with radical factions of the Workers Party of orchestrating a coordinated campaign against Veja.
Naspers
In May 2006, aiming to raise capital, Civita sold a 30% stake of Editora Abril to South African media giant Naspers, a company historically linked to the apartheid era. Civita justified this decision by expressing a preference for this route over capitalizing Grupo Abril's publishing division in ways that might jeopardize his long-term strategic goals for short-term shareholder profits.
Civic life
Civita played an active role in education-related organizations, holding the position of chairman at both Abril Educação and the Board of Trustees for the Victor Civita Foundation. He maintained strong connections with the University of Pennsylvania, contributing leadership expertise to the Lauder Institute and serving on the Wharton Advisory Board.
Additionally, he served on boards such as the Instituto Millenium and the International Center for Economic Growth, demonstrating his commitment to advancing economic and educational causes.
Quotes
Legacy and awards
- 1988, Maria Moors Cabot prize, Columbia University
- 1997, Commander of the Order of the Lion of Finland
- 1997, Doctor Honoris Causa, Faculdade de Comunicação Social Cásper Líbero
- 2002, Grand Officer of the Order of Rio Branco, Brazilian Government