Brazil

Abstract

Brazil is noteworthy in the context of media accountability and media accountability instruments (MAIs). This country chapter aims to depict how journalists perceive the MAIs and how the media landscape influences contemporary journalistic activities. Although there is a certain variety of MAIs, such as codes of ethics, ombudspersons, and press observatories, they impact the journalist’s work only in a limited way in Brazil. The characteristics of the media landscape and organization, the ownership of the media outlets, and the economy are more meaningful. Furthermore, instead of using more traditional MAIs to interact with journalists, the public now has the internet as a way of connecting and criticizing the media directly.