Journalist Pacheco Maia, former Communications Secretary of Salvador, dies at age 61

Journalist Pacheco Maia, former Communications Secretary of Salvador, dies at age 61 — Photo: Secom/PMS

Journalist José Pacheco Maia Filho, known as Pacheco Maia, former Communications Secretary of Salvador, died at the age of 61 on Friday afternoon (18), in the capital of Bahia. According to the Bahia Journalists Union (Sinjorba), the death occurred after complications arising from the treatment of spinal cancer.

Graduated from the Faculty of Communication at the Federal University of Bahia (Ufba), Pacheco worked in newsrooms, political marketing and public service. He was also a fan of Esporte Clube Bahia and a researcher of the work of singer Raul Seixas.

In May 2018, Pacheco was appointed by the then mayor of Salvador, ACM Neto, to head the Municipal Communications Secretariat, succeeding Paulo Alencar. Before that, he headed the advisory department of the Presidency of the Salvador City Council, during the administration of councilor Leo Prates.

Pacheco's relationship with Sinjorba was also highlighted by the union. He held the position of general secretary of the entity between 1993 and 1995, during the management of journalist Alberto Freitas.

In 2021, Pacheco took over as general director of the Paulo Jackson Foundation, responsible for the work of Rádio and TV ALBA. Two years later, in 2023, he was appointed by Governor Jerônimo Rodrigues to the position of general coordinator of journalism at the Secretariat of Social Communication (Secom) of the Government of Bahia.

Pacheco also worked in political marketing. Among the campaigns in which he participated are those of Paulo Souto for the Government of Bahia, ACM Neto for the City of Salvador and João Roma for the state government, in 2022.

Tributes

ACM Neto mourned the journalist's death and highlighted Pacheco's performance during his second term as mayor of Salvador.

The former mayor stated that the journalist was at the team's side during the Covid-19 pandemic and highlighted his work in the area of ​​public communication.

"Pacheco was one of those men whose intelligence did not stop at his job. He had an attentive eye, a firm opinion and the unusual ability to see beyond the obvious", declared ACM Neto.

João Roma also published a tribute and stated that he built a friendship with Pacheco before holding public office and that the two worked together in the campaign for the Government of Bahia, in 2022.

“Today Bahia loses a great professional, but I also say goodbye to a friend and companion on so many journeys”, wrote Roma.

Sinjorba offered solidarity to Pacheco Maia’s family, friends and professional colleagues.

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