O cenário midiático maranhense nas mídias sociais: as características da cobertura informativa em perfis noticiosos do Instagram no Maranhão

Abstract

This dissertation aims to investigate the news coverage of informative profiles on Instagram in the state of Maranhão. The proposal for this study arises from the observation of the growth of these profiles in the region and their importance in the local media scene. The Maranhão media is strongly marked by the influence of conglomerates, directly and indirectly linked to political groups, with local coverage basically limited to television production, in addition to being one of the five Brazilian states with the highest proportion of news deserts per population, according to Atlas da Notícia (2020). Given the circumstances that organize the object, its relevance in the local conjuncture, and the need for investigations that understand the performance of these profiles, this study constitutes the following question: What type of news coverage has been built in the posts of the informative profiles of Maranhão on Instagram? Thus, the general objective of the study is to identify the characteristics of the content posted by Maranhão news profiles on Instagram, in order to be able to analyze the typology of content and editorial marks, understood here as the ethos of the investigated pages, in their informative performance in the local media ecosystem. To understand the functioning of the object, the study adopts a theoretical-methodological approach proposed by the hybrid model applied by GJOL (MACHADO; PALACIOS, 2007). The application of the methodology guides the researcher through stages such as: bibliographic review; mapping; case study; and analysis, which can be adapted considering the particularities of each study universe. In this dissertation, the following quantitative research techniques were selected: a) Mapping, aiming to map the field to be investigated and the research technique from a quanti-qualitative perspective; b) Content Analysis, of two weeks of posts from selected profiles. Together, the two surveys and analysis models will make up a Case Study that is among the pillars of GJol's hybrid methodology and serves as a foundation for this research. The scope of this research is based on the analysis of the 10 most followed profiles in the ten most populous cities in Maranhão - São Luís, Imperatriz, Timon, Caxias, Codó, Açailândia, Bacabal, Balsas, Barra do Corda, and Santa Inês. The non probabilistic sample of the research investigated two weeks of publication on the selected profiles' feed. In conclusion, the research outlined a scenario of sharing information with a local bias, with informative production on these profiles based on a narrative in the mold of content on social media, where posts with entertainment and advertising content were located. Finally, profiles that fulfill their objective and role in the circulation of information in a regional scenario with communication deficits are observed.