The Amazon through the media: the long-term formation of national public opinion

Abstract

This article approaches the contribution of the media for the formation of the Brazilian publicopinion concerning the Amazonian. In this case, foundations of the social and human sciencesare initially presented in order to allow the understanding the process of formation of theopinions. Later, the historical role of printed means of mass communication is described,which made possible the diffusion to the national public of the impressions picked bytravelers and exploiters of the Amazonian lands. In increment and in the reinforcement of theimpressions historically formulated, the current roles of the text books, television andnewspapers are approached, as well as the current conflicts of two outstanding perspectivesare discussed on the Amazonian: the exploratory and the environmentalist.