Subnational parliaments in times of the far right: a study on the perception of journalists from State Legislative TV Stations

Abstract

This work is an excerpt from an ongoing doctoral research project that investigates how the rise of the far right in Brazil affects Legislative TV stations—public broadcasting stations. The research is based on the perceptions of journalists who work at these TV stations. The goal is to understand whether a more reactionary political context influences the editorial decisions of these channels and the production routines of their journalists. The study combines a survey, participant observation in three legislative assemblies, and in-depth interviews. Preliminary analysis of the data confirms the occurrence of more ethical dilemmas and difficulties in making editorial decisions – both associated with parliamentary behavior. However, these influences are relative, as these obstacles were less frequently reported among broadcasters in the Northeast.