Journalism and knowledge: the divergence of the covid-19 data published through the national press and SESAP-RN

Abstract

This article aims to analyze the controversy caused by the divergence between the data published by the media consortium (G1, O Globo, Extra, Estadão, Folha and UOL) and by the Rio Grande do Norte State Health Secretariat in relation to the cases and deaths of covid-19. The case study is based on the approach of journalism as an event and form of knowledge, in its action on the public agenda as a central actor in a mediatized society. The results demonstrate that the way the consortium has analyzed the covid-19 data is wrong, which has important implications on the way the pandemic is being faced in Brazil.