"Power to the people"? Amateur participation in pandemic coverage in an infodemia scenario

Abstract

In the context of contemporary journalism, the influence of the Internet and social media on collaborative content production is emphasized. Thus, the idea is put forth that citizens take on the role of the "fifth power," overseeing journalism, considered the fourth power. During the Covid-19 pandemic, citizens opposed to social isolation measures, incited by political leaders, shift from criticism to aggression against journalists fulfilling their role as informants on the streets. The research focuses on mapping the relationships among these five powers, analyzing the narrative positions of those involved in tension-filled episodes. The Snowball technique is employed for journalists from various regions of Brazil, and the Audiovisual Materiality Analysis is used to study cases of aggression during the pandemic. The results reveal a "Ben 10 Complex," an ambiguous space occupied by citizens, journalists, and state leaders in responding to the pandemic and infodemic, marked by contradictory discourses on the health crisis in the country.