Brazilian newspapers are progressive... in the US.
Print media highlighted Barack Obama's inclusive speech at his second inauguration as President of the United States; equality was the key word in the headlines; in Brazil, however, income transfer policies, quotas for minorities, and sexual diversity are published in the prejudice section; is progressivism only beautiful in someone else's backyard?
247 – Social inclusion programs such as the establishment of racial quotas for access to higher education and employment, minimum income guarantee programs like Bolsa Família, and initiatives for understanding sexual diversity and integrating immigrants into Brazilian society are not exactly subjects that the print media, represented by newspapers like Folha de S. Paulo, O Estado de S. Paulo, and O Globo, are particularly fond of. On the contrary. Practically every day, what can be read in the pages of these newspapers are attacks on programs like ProUni, a series of attacks against what is seen as welfare represented by income-granting programs like Bolsa Família, and a rather discreet, and picturesque, coverage of minority rights, including gays and immigrants.
In the words of President Barack Obama, however, themes like these gained the status of banners of the best of progressivism in a modern society. Giving great prominence to excerpts from the speech given yesterday in Washington DC by the American president during his second inauguration ceremony, the three newspapers coincided in highlighting Obama's promises to reduce social inequalities. Equality was the key word. Covered in praise, the speech highlighted the sections where the president emphasized the need to reduce differences in American society.
In the day-to-day coverage of the Brazilian scene, the three major media outlets in print have a very different stance than they do today. Despite the scope and objective effects of federal social programs such as Bolsa Família and ProUni, to name just two examples, what is most evident here are the negative aspects of these initiatives. They are often pointed out as factors that distort, rather than equalize, the social landscape. One can also see much that is picturesque and folkloric in the daily coverage given to issues concerning sexual diversity. With the exception of spaces dedicated to differentiated events such as gay rights parades and the consequent treatment given by a few columnists, the problems of gay people are relegated to the background by newspapers. Issues directly affecting legal and illegal immigrants in Brazil are also absent from the regular agenda of traditional publications.
Based on the headlines torn apart by newspapers following Obama's speech, perhaps a new approach to these issues will be taken in Brazil by the more traditional media. However, given the history of this topic, the tendency is for them to revert to the realm of prejudice now that the American president's re-election celebration is over.