In December 2012, a study by the news bulletin Jornalistas & Cia concluded that Ribeiro, as measured by the number and importance of prizes won, is the most decorated journalist in Brazilian history.
He also taught at the Faculty Armando Álvares Penteado (FAAP/SP) and served as a member of the Evaluation Committee of the School of Communication and Arts at the University of São Paulo (ECA/USP).
[5] Ribeiro began his career in journalism in 1955 at Radio Bandeirantes in São Paulo, where he worked the night shift and spent significant time accompanying leading caipira musicians.
Ribeiro went to Vietnam in 1968 to cover the war, and lost the lower part of his left leg in a mine explosion near Quang Tri.
He was transported by helicopter to the American hospital in Qui Nhon, where his left leg was amputated just above the ankle, and from there was transferred to the United States for further treatment.
In the later 1970s, tired of government censorship, Ribeiro stopped writing journalism for a while and instead focused on helping news organizations in São Paulo to modernize their newsrooms.