Censorship narratives: coverage of book censorship in Brazilian newspapers

ABSTRACT

Introduction:  Freedom of expression and access to information are two pillars that support a democratic society. However, censorship, whether direct or indirect, can pose a threat to these fundamental individual rights of citizens. In the context of the press and news media, censorship can manifest itself in various ways, especially in dictatorial or autocratic regimes, from explicit government restrictions to economic and political pressures that limit information and opinion dissemination. In democratic regimes, where freedom of expression and access to information prevail, free press can become a great ally in disseminating and combating attempts to curtail these rights.

Objective:  To identify how book censorship in the country is portrayed and discussed by the Brazilian press in news articles. Specifically, we sought to identify the articles published in the primary newspapers in Brazil concerning book censorship, describe the events highlighted in these news articles, and analyze how the topic was presented and discussed in the cases that received the most coverage.

Methodology:  This is an exploratory documentary research with a qualitative and quantitative approach using data collected through journalistic articles and subjected to content analysis.

Results:  The issues raised show that book censorship, whether motivated by content considered inappropriate for specific age groups, for political or ideological reasons, or to preserve privacy, continues to be a recurring theme in Brazilian society.

Conclusion:  The research identified significant challenges related to access to journalistic information and the superficial approach to news.

KEYWORDS
Book censorship; Freedom of expression; Access to information; News media.