A influência da mídia no processo de formação da agenda de políticas públicas na área de saúde: um enfoque sobre o Programa Mais Médicos

Abstract

The present study aims to problematize the role of the media as a political and social actor. The research problem questions whether the mass media, through their articulated discourse, can mobilize public opinion to the point of influencing the national political agenda. In this sense, the discussion is guided by the hypothesis that media vehicles develop a relevant influence on Brazilian public policies, specifically, the “Programa Mais Médicos para o Brasil”. The study is characterized as a qualitative research, developed through the content analysis method, in which journalistic material of the main mass communication vehicles of the country, together with the agenda of the Chamber of Deputies and the Federal Senate, are analyzed. It is sought, through a comparative observation, verify the impact of the media approach on the political agenda of the “Mais Médicos” Program. Among the conclusions reached, two stand out: firstly, that the “Mais Médicos” Program, like most of the public policies implemented in Brazil, was not previously discussed with civil society. Secondly, it was observed that the media influenced greatly the public policy in question, mainly in the phases of agenda setting and implementation