QUALITY ISSUES IN NEWS COVERAGE OF DILMA ROUSSEFF’S IMPEACHMENT: an analysis of six Brazilian newspapers

Abstract

This article aims to discuss quality issues in political journalism from six Brazilian newspapers and their coverage of Dilma Rousseff’s impeachment process in 2016. We analyzed three major national newspapers (Folha de S. Paulo, O Globo, and Estado de S. Paulo) and three regional newspapers (A Tarde, O Liberal and Zero Hora). To do this we applied the methodology adapted from the Journalistic Added Value (VAP) together with quantitative and qualitative analyses. The study reveals the main quality issues in news coverage to be: the influence sources had on selecting which issues would be reported on; the lack of thematic diversity; the officialism of the sources; and the lack of time constraints on post-impeachment.