Flavia Natércia da Silva Medeiros

Pandemic on the air: a case study on the coverage of new influenza A/H1N1 by Brazilian prime time TV news

In this paper we analyze the coverage of the pandemic influenza caused by the A (H1N1) virus by the main Brazilian TV news. Jornal Nacional (JN) – which can be roughly translated with National News – reaches an average of 25 million people throughout the country daily. We have observed that the attention cycle given to the new flu by JN lasted approximately five months with significant space given to the disease. Most of the news highlighted the number of illness cases and the health measures to control the infection. Only a small amount of news dealt with issues related to research and scientific development, and included scientists as interviewees or as information sources. We believe that the coverage made by JN may have contributed to the dissemination of what some authors refer to as a “pandemic of panic”.

A ciência na primeira página: análise das capas de três jornais brasileiros

Many studies have tried to understand how the media covers topics related to science and technology (S&T) but few have examined the presence of these topics on the front pages of newspapers. This study analyzes the content of front-page leads about S&T in 2006, focusing on one elite national paper (Folha de S.Paulo) and two regional papers (Jornal do Commercio, from Pernambuco, and Zero Hora, from Rio Grande do Sul). It was noted that all three papers devoted front-page space to S&T, although to differing degrees. Folha de S.Paulo featured the topic more often, while Zero Hora highlighted it the most on its front pages.

Fora da ordem natural: a natureza nos discursos sobre a clonagem e a pesquisa com celulas-tronco em jornais brasileiros

Different conceptions of nature influence media coverage and public opinion about biotechnology. This study reports on a discourse analysis of the ideas about nature and what is natural expressed in Brazilian media coverage of cloning and stem cell research. In the discourse against this research, the biotechnologies in question are placed outside the natural order of things and deemed immoral. In the discourse of those who defend it, nature is portrayed as indifferent to the fate of humans or even cruel, or else a barrier to be overcome, while cloning and embryonic stem cells are naturalized and Dolly the sheep is anthropomorphized. The mythifying or transcendental representations of nature do not just influence public opinion, but also have ethical and political implications.Different conceptions of nature influence media coverage and public opinion about biotechnology. This study reports on a discourse analysis of the ideas about nature and what is natural expressed in Brazilian media coverage of cloning and stem cell research. In the discourse against this research, the biotechnologies in question are placed outside the natural order of things and deemed immoral. In the discourse of those who defend it, nature is portrayed as indifferent to the fate of humans or even cruel, or else a barrier to be overcome, while cloning and embryonic stem cells are naturalized and Dolly the sheep is anthropomorphized. The mythifying or transcendental representations of nature do not just influence public opinion, but also have ethical and political implications.