Public journalism and citizenship: the dissemination of legislative information in Brazil

Abstract: This work analyzes the relation between the right to information and the exercising of citizenship, within the scope of the dissemination of legislative information. The study traces a parallel between the coverage by private media and by the public media maintained by the Chamber of Deputies. The creation of a specific communication system for the dissemination of legislative information is based on the presupposition that the internal dynamics of the private media do not favor the exercising of citizenship. In addition to the right to information, the right to opinion is emphasized as a basic element for the exercising of freedom of expression, for the consolidation of representative democracy and as an indispensable mechanism for the citizens’ enlightenment.