Diário de Notícias, a successful portuguese journalism project in an adverse environment

Abstract

Portuguese journalism of the 19th century suffered the influence of the political parties or wealthy elites and newspapers were read by this narrow audience and circulation was poor due to low reading rates. In 1864, Diário de Notícias represented a turning point in the press evolution process. It had an easy style, and an informational purpose. It was ‘a newspaper of all and for all - for rich and for poor, for both sexes and all conditions, classes and parties.’ It meant a change in terms of news coverage enhanced by a popular writing style. This study aims to show how Notícias represents a turning point in the ideological journalism model and also its relation to popular international newspapers, as an analysis framework. The methodology will rely on original documentation and newspapers and will focus on Eduardo Coelho and his role in Diário de Notícias’s history.