Covid and Populism in the News

Abstract

– The recent rise of right-wing populism has given new momentum to the discussion about the meaning of populism around the world and the covid-19 pandemic added yet another layer to the issue. Considering the growing circulation of the term “populism” in public discourse, as well as the volatility of its meaning, this paper seeks to identify the different constructions of meaning around this phenomenon by Brazilian media during the covid-19 pandemic. Through quantitative and qualitative analysis, in which we used the perspective of media framings, we examine 170 articles from 17 Brazilian media outlets published between March 1st and October 1st, 2020. The results allow us to conclude that there are circumstantial meanings of populism that were incorporated during the pandemic, especially related to an antiscientific approach. RESUMO – A recente ascensão do populismo de direita tem dado um novo impulso à discussão sobre o significado do populismo em todo o mundo e a pandemia da covid-19 acrescentou uma camada complementar à questão. Considerando a crescente circulação do termo “populismo” no discurso público, bem como a volatilidade de seu significado, este artigo busca identificar as diferentes construções de sentido em torno deste fenômeno nos meios de comunicação brasileiros durante a pandemia da covid-19. Por meio de análises quantitativas e qualitativas, nas quais mobilizamos a perspectiva dos enquadramentos midiáticos, examinamos 170 artigos de 17 veículos de comunicação brasileiros publicados entre 1º de março e 1º de outubro de 2020. Os resultados permitem concluir que há sentidos circunstanciais do populismo que são incorporados durante a pandemia, especialmente relacionados a uma abordagem anticientífica RESUMEN – El reciente aumento del populismo de derecha ha dado un nuevo impulso a la discusión sobre el significado del populismo en todo el mundo y la pandemia de covid-19 agregó una capa más al problema. Considerando la creciente circulación del término “populismo” en el discurso público, así como la volatilidad de su significado, este trabajo busca identificar las diferentes construcciones de significado en torno al fenómeno por los medios brasileños durante la pandemia de covid-19. A través de un análisis cuantitativo y cualitativo, en el que utilizamos la perspectiva de los encuadres mediáticos, examinamos 170 artículos de 17 medios brasileños publicados entre el 1 de marzo y el 1 de octubre de 2020. Los resultados brindan elementos que nos permiten concluir que durante la pandemia se incorporaron significados circunstanciales del populismo, especialmente relacionados con un enfoque anticientífico.

The Evidence of Populism in the Narratives of the President of Brazil during the Covid-19 Pandemic

“…The President's position contributed to a split in the political environment. Considering that Bolsonaro's speeches led to tensions between the government and his health ministers and state governors because they disagreed about what to do against Covid-19, this contributed in some way to an extensive media agenda (Santos & Cesar, 2022), all in an environment where social platforms served as a scene for controversial positions related to the crisis in the health sector.…”

“…In speeches, at events, in conversations, and on social media, Jair Bolsonaro emerges as a critic of the Ministry of Health's policies: according to him, the Covid-19 virus was just a "little flu" (Recuero & Soares, 2021). As followed, the spread of disinformation and the role of traditional media in this scenario cannot be separated from issues in the political arena, especially in case of Brazil, given Bolsonaro's speech which downplayed the significance of Covid-19, the so-called "little flu" (Santos & Cesar, 2022).…”

“…On the one hand, Bolsonaro wants to gain the media's trust, but on the other hand, he accuses them of being malicious, and attacks their credibility by questioning their honesty and alleging that they are spreading disinformation (Leschzyk, 2021). This occurs at a moment when the pandemic has increased questions about populist leaders and the actions taken by these politicians in an environment of crisis, especially considering some speeches or political actions (Santos & Cesar, 2022).…”

“…In the context of the health sector crisis, there was a tendency for former presidential communications in social networks to focus on decision-making issues supporting political arguments (Manfredi-Sánchez et al, 2021, p. 83). In some ways, the pandemic has increased questions about populist leaders and the actions taken by these politicians, especially considering some speeches or political actions (Santos & Cesar, 2022).…”