2011 Volume 79 Pages 63-84
This article aims to discuss the complexity of the relationship between a new diaspora that emerged mainly after the 1980s -the Brazilian expatriates- and the media. Several aspects of this relationship are explored. First, the strategies of Globo International, the biggest TV network in Brazil, which launched an international broadcasting service targeting Brazilian audiences abroad, are analyzed not only in terms of its programs, but also in terms of an event named "Brazilian Day," which Globo co-hosts in many countries. Second, some examples of the diverse attitudes and reactions of diasporic audiences towards Brazilian TV are presented, including the case study of "Sonhar um sonho," a TV show on the Record TV network, which was severely criticized after a rescue operation in favor of a Brazilian family living in Japan in the aftermath of the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami tragedy. Third, an overview of the Brazilian diasporic media in the U.S., Europe and Australia are presented, followed by a brief comparison with the situation in Japan. The article concludes with a discussion about the challenges faced by scholars who are doing research related to "multicultural society and media" as well as "ethnic media (or diasporic media)," with a focus on the methodological dilemmas.
