Mediatized Public Sphere and Journalism in Times of Algorithms, Polarization and Crisis of Democracy in Brazil

This paper is a result of the research conducted by the Media Communication and Social Movements Research Group (ComMov), from the São Paulo State University (Unesp), since 2015. It aims to provide a theoretical and conceptual understanding of the mediatized public sphere, focusing on the role of journalism amidst the influence of social media, algorithms, polarization, and democratic crisis in Brazil in the last decade. The study draws upon mediatization theories, the social representations articulated to the notion of the Habermasian public sphere, and network communication to analyze social phenomena observed in Brazil since 2013, a crucial year marked by conflicts and polarizations that continue to shape public discourse and the repositioning of journalism in the face of an evolving scenario. By acknowledging the complexity of the historical context, we propose a reflection on the communicational aspects within contemporary public sphere processes. Our argument revolves around the notion of an ongoing crisis within the modern societal framework, resulting in detrimental effects on democracy, media communication, and journalism. This crisis leads to the creation of a divided, less rational, and more emotionally-driven contemporary public sphere, heavily influenced by algorithmic logic. The present work aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of these issues and their implications.