The article provides a historical and evolutionary overview on the references regarding variety journalism, confronting ideas and articulating stances that most resemble the market features. Its main goal is to better conceptualize this journalistic practice, which has been conquering significant space in newspapers and magazines, but that still lacks theoretical marking. The methodology is based on bibliographical research. With a special attention to the Brazilian scenery, the text unveils the changes shaped by the press, since the nineteenth century, that ended up on the current design of what may be considered variety journalism: a specialty that deals with arts and entertainment focusing on leisure options available to the readership.
Variety journalism; Specialized journalism; Journalism theory; Culture; Entertainment