A Study of the Sources Used in Coverage of the Brazilian Secondary Education Reform in an Intercultural Context

Abstract

This article investigates the discursive strategies used by the website of Veja, a weekly general interest magazine with the highest circulation in Brazil, to engage its audiences and establish reading contracts, promoting citizenship and respect for diversity in an intercultural setting, within the framework of a national public policy. The study is justified by the need to delve deeper into research linking education and media, considering the fragmentation of the Brazilian context, its cultural diversity, and a secondary education reform in the country. To this end, the journalistic sources used in articles related to Brazilian secondary education reform were identified and mapped during two distinct periods relevant to the debate: 2016/2017 (creation and enactment of the reform) and 2022/2023 (implementation and suspension of the reform). Qualitative and quantitative analyses, supported by graphs, were used to identify the frequency of use of the sources and understand the meaning attributed to them. The study concludes that journalistic sources have played an important role in the intercultural landscape, fostering empathy and a sense of connection between the Veja magazine website and its diverse audiences. However, by emphasizing the voices of their peers, they weaken the plurality of the debate on education in the country and contribute to political polarization and the intensification of tensions between progressives and conservatives.