Narrativas jornalísticas sobre a pessoa idosa e o envelhecimento: uma análise de conteúdo em um portal de notícias brasileiro

Abstract

Introduction: Population aging has progressed significantly, and the media plays a central role in shaping social perceptions of older adults and the aging process, influencing values, behaviors, and public policies. Objective: To analyze journalistic narratives about older adults and aging in a Brazilian news portal. Method: This is a descriptive, qualitative, and documentary study grounded in Content Analysis. News articles were selected from the largest Brazilian news portal using the keywords: “senhor/a” (Mr./Mrs.), “idoso/a” (older adult), “envelhecimento/envelhecer” (aging/to age), “terceira idade” (third age), and “pessoa(s) idosa(s) aged 60 to 80 years”. Articles with a direct focus on the topic were included, while repeated articles or those primarily focused on religious or cultural event promotion were excluded. The analysis was conducted in three stages: pre-analysis (organization and floating reading), material exploration (categorization and generation of word clouds), and results treatment (thematic grouping of narratives). Results: A total of 56 news articles were identified, of which 25 comprised the final sample. The journalistic narratives revealed two main approaches: a propositional perspective, which emphasizes health, autonomy, social participation, and the rights of older adults; and a stigmatizing perspective, which reinforces negative stereotypes associated with vulnerability, dependence, and frailty. Conclusion: Media representations of aging directly influence social perceptions and may contribute either to inclusion or to the perpetuation of prejudice. The study highlights the need for more balanced, ethical, and humanized journalistic narratives capable of promoting empathy and valuing the lived experiences of older adults.