Critical Analysis of José Marques De Melo’s Journalistic Thinking

Abstract

A pioneer figure in the field, José Marques de Melo gained justified fame in journalism studies in Brazil, without elaborating upon a systematic reflection on the subject. In this article, we proceed to the rational reconstruction of what would be his journalism theory, in order to develop a critical judgment about its intellectual meaning and epistemological limits. We argue that his ideas are part of what will be referred to here as liberal-developmentalism. In conclusion, we affirm that the lack of greater scientific and intellectual resonance in his work is the result of the incompatibilities and contradictions of this kind of thinking with the historical formation of Brazilian society.Figura pioneira no campo, José Marques de Melo marcou posição nos estudos de jornalismo no Brasil, sem ter pretendido deixar reflexão sistemática a respeito do assunto. Procedemos neste artigo à reconstrução racional do que seria sua teoria do jornalismo para, no fim, emitir juízo crítico sobre seu significado intelectual e seus limites epistemológicos. Argumentamos que suas ideias se enquadram no que se chamará aqui de liberal-desenvolvimentismo. Em conclusão, afirmamos que a falta de maior ressonância científica e intelectual de sua obra é fruto das incompatibilidades e contradições do referido ideário com a formação histórica da sociedade brasileira.Figura pionera en el campo, José Marques de Melo marcó posición en los estudios de periodismo en Brasil, sin haber tenido la intención de elaborar una reflexión sistemática sobre el tema. En este artículo, procedemos a la reconstrucción racional de lo que sería su teoría del periodismo para, al final, emitir un juicio crítico sobre su significado intelectual y sus límites epistemológicos. Argumentamos que sus ideas caen dentro de lo que aquí se llamará liberal-desarrollismo. En conclusión, afirmamos que la falta de mayor resonancia científica e intelectual en su trabajo es resultado de las incompatibilidades y contradicciones de esa idea con la formación histórica de la sociedad brasileña.

CIESPAL and the development of education and research in communication in Latin America

“…Just to illustrate this, the case of José Marques de Melo can be mentioned, who saw the UNES-CO / CIESPAL scholarship as an opportunity to leave Brazil, after the military coup of 1964. Upon his return, he spread functionalist and developmental approaches, but he went far beyond the role of recipient of foreign influences (Rüdiger & Daros, 2020). Inspired by the work of North American scholars such as Nixon, the Brazilian became an international academic leader and pioneer in the study of what he and others used to call "Latin American communication thinking" (Marques de Melo, 2009).…”

French theoretical and methodological influences on Brazilian journalism research

“…Similar to Jobim, Freitas Nobre prioritized the political career over the academic career. For this and other reasons, the merit of pioneering Brazilian journalism research is dedicated to Luiz Beltrão and his pupil José Marques de Melo (see Rüdiger and Daros, 2020). With the support of his master, he fled the authoritarian regime and went to study at the Centro Internacional de Estudios Superiores de Comunicación para América Latina (Ciespal, International Center of Higher Studies in Communication for Latin America), in Ecuador, where Beltrão was a visiting professor.…”

A Decolonial Approach to the Discipline of Journalism Theory in Brazil

“…Although Brazil has a modern tradition of journalistic thinking (Marques de Melo, 2009), with its own theoretical and empirical contradictions (Rüdiger & Daros, 2020a), those that could be called classics here—Rui Barbosa (1920), Barbosa Lima Sobrinho (1923), Antonio Olinto (1955), Alceu Amoroso Lima (1960), Dantom Jobim (1960), and Luiz Beltrão (1960)—seem out of date, taking into account the number of quotes in the lesson plans. Contemporary scholars are also apparently in decline, such as Nilson Lage (1979) and Ciro Marcondes Filho (1986)—who were some of the main references when the discipline of journalism theory was institutionalized in Brazil (Pedroso, 2005).…”