Political identity and public radio programming: comparative study of four Brazilian federal broadcasters

Abstract

Does the programming of an institutional radio station reflect its political identity? Starting from this initial question, this article analyzes the program schedule of the four major (FM) radio stations of the institutions that represent the three powers of the Brazilian Republic: Rádio Nacional FM, Rádio Senado, Rádio Câmara and Rádio Justiça. The objective is to evaluate whether the programming predominant genres on each station are in line with their political/institutional identity. To that end, the comparison is guided by the following elements: the institutional objectives of each station, the way in which each one defines itself (public, state, institutional), and the perception of their managers. The assumption that guides the study is that the institutional radio stations created in the ’90s are heirs to the tradition of the educational radio created in Brazil in the ’60s. It concludes that this heritage continues today, but with a new approach, which focuses on education for democracy and citizenship. But the traditional model of management remains, based on the unilateral power of the state to decide what people should know.

Key words: public radio stations, Rádio Câmara, legislative media.