From Controversy to Spectacularization: The Construction of a Style in Police Newscasting in the Northeastern Region
Television style; television; sensationalism; police journalism; newscast
This research aims to propose a reclassification of the television style (Butler, 2010), focusing on police broadcast journalism. We seek to analyze the existence of a television style in this type of program, which is generally characterized by the constant use of controversy, sensationalism, and spectacularization (Debord, 1995). Furthermore, the posture and performance of the presenters were studied, investigating how they build their personas (Jung, 1990; Goffman, 1985) and shape the program's conduction according to a personal style. Our research object consists of the analysis of the main newscasts from each northeastern state, specifically local police newscasts broadcast in the state capitals and metropolitan regions. The analyzed programs were: Alagoas (Fique Alerta / TV Pajuçara and Plantão Alagoas / TV Ponta Verde), Bahia (Balanço Geral - BA / TV Itapoan), Ceará (Balanço Geral - CE / TV Metropolitana and Cidade 190 / TV Cidade), Maranhão (Balanço Geral - MA / TV Cidade and Hora D / TV Difusora), Paraíba (Cidade em Ação / TV Arapuan and Correio Verdade / TV Correio), Pernambuco (Por Aqui / TV Jornal, Bora Pernambuco / TV Tribuna, and Balanço Geral - PE / TV Clube), Piauí (Balanço Geral - PI / TV Antena 10 and Bora Piauí / TV Bandeirantes Piauí), Rio Grande do Norte (Balanço Geral - RN / TV Tropical and Patrulha da Cidade / TV Ponta Negra), Sergipe (Balanço Geral - SE and Tolerância Zero / TV Atalaia). Therefore, this research was conducted on broadcast journalism programs produced and aired in the Northeast region, with an influence mainly on a local level. The research aims to answer the following question: how do spectacularization, controversy, and sensationalism permeate the environment of police broadcast journalism, resulting in a specific television style? Television stands out as a medium of connection, keeping people informed, entertained, and engaged. Discourse analysis (Charaudeau, 2013; 2016; Maingueneau, 1997; 1998; 2008) and an analysis of modes of address (Gomes, 2007; 2011) were used. Even before the popularization of social media, television sought to engage viewers in its programming, adapting to meet different media demands. For a long time, a conception of television genres and formats was built and consolidated (Souza, 2004; Fechine, 2001). In the field of communication, we advocate that as technologies advance and new communication tools emerge, society discusses the end of previously used technologies. However, despite these changes, television continues to play a significant role, offering the public experiences and possibilities for media interaction. It was concluded that, given the various possibilities provided by new technologies and the multiplication of communication platforms for the production and transmission of police programs, these shows develop a specific way of communicating. The central thesis argument maintains that this "style" is characterized by the use of controversy, sensationalism, and spectacularization, meeting the informative demands generated by social dynamics.