Terrence McCoy

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Rio de Janeiro Bureau Chief

Education: University of Iowa, BA, political science and journalism; Columbia University, MA, international politics and journalism

Terrence McCoy is The Washington Post's Rio de Janeiro Bureau Chief. He has twice won the George Polk Award and was named a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 2023. He served in the Peace Corps in Cambodia. He joined The Washington Post in 2014, and has been a staff writer on the local, national and foreign desks.
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Latest from Terrence McCoy

An Indigenous teen’s protest: Give birth on land she said belonged to her people

A tiny Indigenous territory has become a national battleground over Brazil’s most polarizing question: How much land do Indigenous people warrant?

January 2, 2024

As George Santos is expelled from Congress, Brazilians hang their heads

The New York Republican is said to have been the first Brazilian American to be elected to the U.S. Congress. He hasn’t made his parents’ country proud.

December 1, 2023

Businessman accused of bribing Sen. Menendez had deep ties to Egypt

Wael Hana’s extensive ties to the Egyptian government included arranging the shipment of military equipment from the U.S., associates say.

November 27, 2023

A lovers’ tale of romance, fidelity and the aviary netting keeping them apart

Blue and gold macaws are some of nature’s most social and faithful creatures. When they find their partner, it’s for life.

November 23, 2023

Brazil reckons with dark side of açaí: Rampant, dangerous child labor

After a Washington Post report drew international attention, authorities are investigating the industry. They’ve documented paralysis, spinal and skeletal injuries and venomous snake bites.

November 20, 2023

Woman dies after going to sweltering Taylor Swift concert in Rio

A 23-year-old woman succumbed to heat as Taylor Swift brought her Eras Tour to a concert venue in Rio de Janeiro.

November 18, 2023

Attacked by Amazon’s largest venomous snake, man survives days in jungle

The South American bushmaster — the longest viper in the world and the largest venomous snake in the Americas — can inject up to 500 milligrams of venom into its victims, causing severe pain, nausea, shock and, in extreme cases, death.

November 8, 2023

Prosecutors demand Brazil’s oldest bank pay reparations for slavery

Attorneys with the Federal Public Ministry gave Banco do Brasil 15 days to apologize for its role in slavery and present a plan for some form of reparations.

October 27, 2023

Brazil blames U.S. pilots in crash that killed 154. They’re still flying.

The question of responsibility for the 2006 Gol Flight 1907 crash, then Brazil’s deadliest aviation disaster, divided the Western Hemisphere’s largest nations.

October 23, 2023

Three doctors shot dead on popular tourist beach in Rio de Janeiro

The doctors were killed and another injured by gunmen in a popular beach area on Thursday.

October 6, 2023