Maurício Alencar
Journalist
Top scoops and stories
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AI chatbot Chai encourages underage sex, suicide and murder
The Times ~ An exclusive investigation into how a popular AI chatbot encourages underage sex, suicide and murder. Read more here
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City Football Group’s purchase of Brazilian club Bahia: The inside story
The Athletic ~ A feature piece on why Manchester City’s owners, City Football Group, chose to invest in EC Bahia. I spent three days interviewing prominent figures at the club’s training ground and stadium. Read more here.
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How Brazil’s far right ‘kidnapped’ the most famous shirt in football
The Athletic ~ Piece on the relationship between football and Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro, featuring interviews with former Brazil no.9 Walter Casagrande, an academic and Juca Kfouri, Brazil’s most well-known journalist. Read more here. Original tweet here.
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Special report: How Oxford partnered with Russian bank and Blavatnik
A deep investigation into Oxford’s partnership with Alfa Bank and Len Blavatnik.
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Putin’s ‘hockey buddy’ funded Teddy Hall and Saïd Business School
Oxford University accepted over £3m from Vladimir Potanin, the second richest man in Russia.
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Man City’s parent group buys Brazilian side EC Bahia for £158m
The Athletic ~ First story in British press to report the completed acquisition of EC Bahia by City Football Group for R$1 billion in May 2023. Attended a press conference to cover the story, asking a question to Bahia’s president alongside City Football Group CEO Ferran Sorriano. Read more here.
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Bruno Guimaraes’ journey to Newcastle: Futsal, obsession and an inspirational speech
The Athletic ~ A story on Bruno Guimaraes’ background and upbringing through interviews with former coaches, including youth coaches. With The Athletic football writer Jack Lang. Read more here.
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‘Edson is gone, but Pele is not’: How Brazil mourned its most famous son
The Athletic ~ A round-up story written in one day about Brazil’s reaction to Pelé’s death. It details the country’s plans for mourning. Read more here.
Example in video/broadcasting
Experiences
December 2023 – present
Saturday newsdesk assistant
Updating reporters and editors with latest news wires, sending copy for last checks before print and digital deadlines
August 2023 (2 weeks)
Newsroom Internship
Obituaries, breaking news support, sub-editing, and other news exercises
August 2023 (2 weeks)
Newsroom Internship
The Sun: Research, sub-editing, publishing, copywriting, reporting
+ one day with Times Radio’s World in 10
March 2022 – July 2022
Editor-in-Chief
- Led team of over 70 students with co-editor
- Brand new weekly newsletter
- Website refrom
- Restarted Cherwell Video
- Print edition redesign and paper section overhaul
- New guidelines
- First ever Student Open News Meeting with Tortoise Media
- Interviews and stories on oligarchs, Varsity, activism, breaking news and more
December 2021 – March 2020: Deputy Editor, overseeing Comment, Science, Sports and Investigations
July 2021 – December 2021: News Editor
December 2020 – July 2021: Sports Editor
Awards
- Winner of Clive Taylor Prize 2022 for sports journalism by Geddes Trust
- Shortlisted for ‘student or early career’ prize in Freelance Journalism Awards 2023
- Shortlisted for FWA Hugh McIlvanney Student Football Writer of 2022.
Languages
- 🇧🇷 (Brazilian) Portuguese (fluent)
- 🇪🇸 Spanish (advanced)
- 🇫🇷 French (advanced)
Skills, qualifications and certificates
- InDesign
- Wordpress
- MailChimp
- Canva
- Adobe Audition
- Adobe Premiere Pro
- Excel (basics)
- DBS Check
- UK Driving Licence
Bio
I am a Brazilian-British journalist based in London.
My experience in journalism includes writing articles for The Athletic, working inside newsrooms at Reuters and The Sun, and running Oxford University’s independent student newspaper Cherwell as its Editor-in-Chief.
Some of my best stories include a feature piece on the relationship between Brazilian football and nationalism, a ‘special report’ on how Oxford University partnered with Blavatnik and a Russian bank, and a story on Russian oligarch Vladimir Potanin’s donation to Oxford – picked up by The Times, openDemocracy and the Mail Online.
In my spare time, I produce video explainers on Latin American news and other current affairs via TikTok and Insta Reels.
I am actively seeking freelance opportunities, including work placements, internships and other additional roles. I hope to develop my skillset and make valuable contributions to news organisations. I am available to work on overnight shifts and on weekends.
In early 2022, I was awarded the Clive Taylor prize for sports journalism by the Geddes Trust, which funded a two-month stay in Brazil exploring football stories as a freelancer for The Athletic.
I have also been shortlisted for ‘Best Piece of Work by a Student or Early Career Journalist’ at the Freelance Journalism Awards 2023 and FWA Student Football Writer of the Year in 2022.
After graduating from the University of Oxford with First Class Honours in BA English Language and Literature, I have started an MA in International Journalism at City, University of London.
Finding interesting story ideas, taking the initiative and writing clean copy under pressure are some of my main skills. I have experience in using tools such as InDesign, Canva and WordPress.
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