Epidemic and media: meanings constructed in journalistic narratives

Abstract

The aim this research is to analyze the meanings constructed in journalistic narratives over relevant public health problems, are epidemic event. The study focuses on the coverage made by four journals of Salvador, Bahia-Brasil, over un epidemic of leucopoenia due to occupational exposure to benzene, that occurred at Petrochemical Polo of Camaçari-Ba, Brasil, during 1990 e 1991. The study of the extensive and diverse approaches of the journals allows the reflection about the role of media for the growth of society critical conscience, in order to protect health in collectivities. It is analyzed the narrative constructed by the articulation of 217 news about the theme, published during 18 months, oriented by Paul Ricoeur's Theory of Interpretation. The reference for the analysis is the technical and scientific interpretation for the event, reconstituted by the documental analysis and interviews with researchers and health and safety professionals who were involved in the activities for the diagnosis and control of the epidemic. Through different levels of analysis, there were identified four distinct meanings for the epidemic, produced by the journals. The arguments that supported the meanings are described and analyzed as a way for the validation of the hypotheses formulated as conjectures in the discourse analysis of the narratives by interpreting the postures and movements of journalists to find out news events.. The results are discussed considering the current social discourse that supports and informs the meanings, and also the limits and possibilities of the news agency for the communication of relevant information for health promotion and protection, in so conflictive situation as the epidemics, when populations affected are hopeful for information.