Definir o independente, qualificar o jornalismo: reflexões e experiências de quem atua fora do modelo convencional

Abstract

The research investigates the quality of journalism within the context of independent initiatives, based on the perceptions of journalists working in this professional environment. It considers the routines, practices, and principles they deem essential for producing quality journalism. This analytical approach is justified by the need to deepen the conceptualization of quality in journalism, taking into account the field’s diversity and the analysis of journalistic practices outside conventional models. In a scenario marked by transformations ranging from work routines to the social role of the press, challenges such as the flexibilization of labor relations (Lima & Bezerra, 2010), changes in news consumption habits (Mattos, 2021), disinformation (Prazeres & Ratier, 2020), and attacks on the press (Souza, 2024) threaten journalism’s credibility and underscore the importance of the debate on its quality. In this context, independent journalism — characterized by greater editorial autonomy and more horizontal forms of organization (Patrício, 2024; Oliveira & Felippi, 2023; Silva & Santos, 2023; Figaro & Nonato, 2017) — emerges as fertile ground for reflecting on new possibilities for professional practice. The research is guided by the following questions: What characteristics, principles, and dimensions define independent journalism from the perspective of professionals working in this field? How do these professionals define quality in their journalistic output? What routines and practices do they consider important for the quality of independent journalism? The study adopts a qualitative and exploratory approach (Lösch, Rambo & Ferreira, 2023; Richardson, 2012; Fraser & Gondim, 2004; Gil, 2002), with a literature review on quality in journalism, transformations in the field, and platformization. Additionally, a survey was conducted with 29 journalists who participated in the "Profile of the Brazilian Journalist 2021" study (Lima et al., 2021) and identified independent journalism initiatives as their main work environment. The goal is to map the characteristics that define and qualify the journalism practiced by these professionals. This step precedes a series of interviews with nine journalists selected from the survey, based on the diversity of their career paths. The combination of these two instruments seeks to balance breadth and depth in the analysis, offering a more nuanced understanding of the interviewees’ perceptions and experiences. The results indicate that independent journalism maintains affinities with traditional conceptions of the profession — especially regarding principles such as ethics, truthfulness, social responsibility and public interest — but also reveals distinctions, such as stronger ties with communities and territories, collaborative and decentralized practices. However, its viability depends on its ability to adapt to new market conditions and to develop strategies that ensure its autonomy and sustainability. Thus, the findings of this study contribute to the debate on journalistic quality by expanding the understanding of the particularities of independent journalism and the factors that influence its production, highlighting the impact of structural challenges on its consolidation and pointing to possible paths for its strengthening