Os Media e a discussão polarizada pela Regionalização: análise à cobertura jornalística da campanha do referendo à criação de regiões administrativas em 1998

Abstract

Regionalization has been one of the hot topics in Portuguese politics since the 1976 Constitution of the Portuguese Republic approval. The country's division into administrative regions has generated a polarized discussion among those who claim to be the solution to Portugal's serious territorial cohesion issues and who believes that this reform will only bring more corruption into the public system. In the referendum held in 1998, the "No" to the regions prevailed, but with an abstention rate of over 50%, which represents a failure of the information. This result cannot be seen apart from the electoral campaign, as well as the journalistic coverage. This article analyzes that, focusing on the main Portuguese newspapers at the time. The agenda setting and framing that each media organization gave to the news they publish are described as essential for building the opinion of the masses. The article argues the importance of these concepts and reflects on the errors of journalism in following the '98 referendum and the politicization of regionalization, neglecting the administrative reform itself.