Maria Paola de Salvo has a degree in Journalism from São Paulo University (USP) and a MSc in Media, Communication and Development from London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). She also received advanced training on social media at Columbia University. Paola worked for ten years as a reporter and editor for the Abril Group, writing for websites and magazines such as Quatro Rodas and Veja São Paulo. During her career, she published more than 300 articles and 42 cover stories on the topics of public health, politics and urban and transport planning. She also earned two journalism awards; one of them was granted to a cover story that offered a complete evaluation of each one of the 52 council members that were running for reelection in São Paulo. During her time in London, she was responsible for research and production of reports on the health and media landscape in African countries for Development Media International (DMI), a UK-based NGO.