Viradouro won the Rio Carnival. Mocidade in Sao Paulo. However, the broadcast of the party focused primarily on professional journalism or rather, its absence, which outweighed the exuberance of the celebrations captured by cameras in Sapucaí and Anhembi. The lack of coverage rich in context, investigation and analysis attracted as much attention as the allegories and sambas themselves, if not more.
Globo, holder of the rights to broadcast the carnival on open television, has excluded its journalistic department from reporting since this year and delegated the task to the sports and entertainment departments. The aim was to increase the attractiveness for the advertising market and reduce costs. However, what was broadcast in both São Paulo and Rio was a veritable show full of errors and comments without any relevance.
Without journalists, the broadcast was unable to convey crucial details such as the performances of the front committees, leaving viewers unable to understand what was happening. The presenters found it difficult to comment on the parades due to a lack of information about the events on the avenue. In the days that followed, reporting on the 2024 Carnival results continued to cause confusion among the public, primarily due to the lack of explanation for the low results.
The lack of information sparked strong criticism online and more and more users called for a return to traditional journalistic reporting. Internet users expressed dissatisfaction with the superficiality of the show, pointing out that the influencers do not understand or even cannot explain the complex storylines and topics of the samba schools. The problems also earned a statement of rejection from the National Association of Journalists FENAJ, which stressed that the absence of journalism affects the public understanding of the festival by failing to provide historical and social context, analysis and interviews that would enrich the perception of traditions and events changes.
The replacement of journalists with influencers, whose strength lies primarily in charisma but not necessarily in deep understanding or commitment to accuracy, resulted in reporting that slipped into the trivial and left the public adrift in a sea of commentary that offered little Contributed to unraveling the layers of meaning, history and social criticism embedded in the parades, transforming one of Brazil's greatest cultural expressions into nothing more than a superficial spectacle designed for consumption.
Broadcasting without the presence of journalists also had the side effect of further highlighting the importance of the sector, especially in a country like Brazil, which has been subject to constant attacks on the integrity and fundamental role of media professionals since 2016. Journalism is the foundation on which bridges of dialogue and understanding are built in an increasingly fragmented world. Whether uncovering the nuances of carnival or illuminating the dark corridors of power, journalists play an irreplaceable role in bringing to light the truths that shape our collective and individual understanding of reality. The public's dissatisfaction with coverage of the party serves as a warning that professional journalism is not a luxury but a necessity in times of uncertainty and challenge.