Discurso jornalístico sobre as enchentes do RS: dramatização, silenciamentos e polifonia controlada

Abstract

This study proposes an analysis of journalistic discourses produced during the climate-related tragedies in Rio Grande do Sul, based on articles published by the online newspapers *Folha de S.Paulo* and *O Sul* between May 5 and May 10, 2024. The research seeks to understand how the journalistic narratives constructed in the immediate aftermath of the federal government's declaration of a state of public calamity shape meanings regarding the environmental crisis, socio-environmental responsibility, and global demands for sustainable development. It is premised on the hypothesis that journalism plays a pivotal role in contributing to environmental discourse while simultaneously upholding citizens' rights to access environmental resources for the sake of future generations. Theoretically, the study integrates discussions on communication and the environment, environmental disinformation, the right to a healthy environment, and disaster communication, while also considering the social role of journalism in mediating events of public interest. Methodologically, the research adopts a qualitative approach and employs French-school Discourse Analysis, drawing specifically on analytical concepts such as meaning production, polyphony, and silencing. The corpus consists of selected news articles from both outlets within the defined timeframe, focusing on statements related to the coverage of the floods and their social and environmental consequences. The results reveal a journalistic discourse characteristic of tragedy situations: controlled polyphony, the silencing of structural and political dimensions, and the generation of dramatic narratives. This research aims to contribute to the field of communication and citizenship studies by highlighting how journalistic discourses shape the symbolic construction of climate tragedies and contemporary debates on sustainable development.