Proximity journalism: Jornal do Centro’s news coverage of the October 2017 fires in the Viseu region (Portugal)

Abstract

Portugal has been identified as one of the countries most affected by rural fires. Year after year, thousands of hectares are burnt and in the last decade this phenomenon has been getting worse, not only because of the size and brutality of the fires, but also because of the irreparable consequences for communities, always leading to special interest on the part of the national and local media. In crisis situations, such as major fires, like the national media, local Portuguese media also tend to give a negative coverage initially. At a later stage, the content is positive or neutral, focusing on precautionary and defense measures in this type of situation. This descriptive and exploratory case study provides pertinent evidence about the production routine of the local media in crisis situations, such as rural fires. A quantitative analysis of 24 editions of Jornal do Centro, from Viseu (Portugal), with a total of 98 articles, shows that there is frequent choice to news, albeit large, favoring the single source, as this is also easier, more accessible and more economical in terms of production routine. There is not a great deal of reportage, which is “seated journalism”. Although the voice of the citizens is existent in the newspaper’s pages, it is the official sources that get the most attention, especially those linked to local government, such as local councils, and sources related to the fire brigade or humanitarian associations.