Images and stereotypes of Brazil in international correspondents news reports

Abstract

The paper deals with the coverage given to Brazil by international correspondents. Based on an analysis of articles published between 2002 and 2005, the study traces a profile of the most common stereotypes representing national identity. The research focuses on articles published in “The New York Times” (USA), “El Mundo” (Spain), “Diário de Notícias” (Portugal), “The Guardian” and “The Observer” (both from Britain), and “Página/12” and “El Clarín” (both from Argentina). A critical discourse analysis and quantitative and qualitative evaluation indicated the strategies used by the correspondents to build the collective images referring to the nation. The predominant stereotypical subjects and processes were organized into four groups representing different “Brazils”: “green”, about environmental protection and devastation; “mud”, about corruption and poverty; “blood”, about violence and drugs; and “plastic”, about wealth, Carnival, and being up for sale to tourists.