Reuters loses top two journalists in Brazil

Reuters’ top two journalists in Brazil are leaving for jobs elsewhere. Bureau chief Todd Benson (photo) is taking a senior job at Google in Brazil. Chief correspondent Brian Winter will join the Council of the Americas in New York as its vice-president.

Kieran Murray, news editor for Latin America and the Caribbean, announced the departure of “two superb journalists and colleagues” and said they had led a great news file out of Brazil in the last few years.

“Todd joined Reuters in Brazil in 2002 and has been bureau chief there for the last six years, showing impressive journalism and leadership skills as he restructured the bureau, made some great hires and steadily improved all areas of coverage. He has also been an excellent ambassador for Reuters with customers and often appears on Brazilian TV news shows,” Murray wrote in an announcement.

“Brian worked for us in Argentina and Mexico in 2000-2005, left for a few years to write books, and rejoined in 2010 to take the job of chief correspondent in Brazil. His skillful reporting and source-building, fascination with policy issues and elegant writing quickly made him a real authority on Brazil.

“Working together, they led a transformation of our file, turning it into a model of quick and smart spot news coverage and ambitious, enterprising journalism.”

Murray said both jobs would be posted quickly with the aim of continuing that transformation. ■