O processo de recepção do telejornalismo por pessoas com deficiências auditivas ou visuais: barreiras, experiências e estratégias de acessibilidade comunicativa

Abstract

This study investigates how individuals with hearing or visual impairments access and interpret televised news content, taking into account both the communication barriers they face and the communicative strategies they develop. Grounded in the social model of disability, the research discusses the relevance of inclusive practices in media, assuming the perspective that full access to information is a fundamental right for the exercise of citizenship. To achieve this, in-depth interviews and participant observation were conducted, aiming to understand, in context, the experiences, perceptions, and resources that visually or hearing-impaired individuals mobilize when interacting with televised news. The theoretical framework is based on authors who address communicational citizenship, social responsibility in journalism, and television news studies, as well as research on accessibility and the history of people with disabilities. The methodological approaches propose a tension between functionalism, which emphasizes the integrative social functions of television, and Martín-Barbero, whose focus is on cultural mediation processes in media reception. The findings point to the need for adapted resources, such as sign language interpreters and audio description, and greater editorial attention to ensure the effective inclusion of people with sensory impairments in journalistic content. Thus, this dissertation contributes to discussions on the democratization of communication and offers reflections on broader practices in television news, capable of embracing society’s linguistic and sensory diversity.