Jornalismo em tempo real: imediatismo na cobertura de sequestros na mídia tradicional brasileira

Abstract

This academic essay seeks to critically reflect on the immediacy present in the coverage of kidnappings in the traditional Brazilian media, based on two emblematic cases that marked the recent history of journalism in the country: that of bus 174 (2000, Rio de Janeiro), and that of the teenager Eloá Cristina (2008, in the city of Santo André, located in São Paulo). Based on an interdisciplinary perspective that combines references from Communication and Philosophy, the essay reflects on how the logic of speed and instantaneity and how they impact the form and content of journalistic narratives, especially in coverage of extreme situations, such as kidnappings broadcast live. We reflect on the transformations in the time of journalism, from the periodic logic of the traditional press to the continuous and accelerated logic of the digital age. We discuss the “spirit of the present time”, the demands of productivity imposed on journalistic work and the consequences of immediacy in the coverage of kidnappings. The ethical implications of kidnapping coverage are examined, with an emphasis on the management of working time in newsrooms, the trivialization of violence, live broadcasts, and the exposure of the private lives of victims and their families. The analysis highlights how television images, in their search for impact and audience, transform suffering into a spectacle. In the two cases analyzed in this essay, it is clear how the urgency of information shaped editorial decisions, influenced outcomes, and generated ethical dilemmas, with significant consequences for journalism and society. Finally, this essay proposes a critical reflection on the limits of real time in journalism, pointing to the need for more responsible practices, less hostage to the logic of spectacularization and more committed to the ethical aspects that should guide journalistic practice.