Brazilian Journalism Research is pleased to announce a call for papers for the dossier “Irreverent Journalism”.
This call for papers features contributions from guest editors Maombi Mukomya (Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium) and Jacques Mick (Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil).
Irreverent journalism can be understood as a form of counterpower essential to the functioning of contemporary democracies, particularly in contexts marked by mistrust of political and media institutions. More than a provocative style or tone, it refers to professional stances, editorial strategies, and the conditions under which the profession is practiced, which question the very foundations of journalistic authority, its social legitimacy, and its relationship with power.
Situated within the tradition of combative journalism, irreverent journalism is often defined in opposition to models associated with neutrality or deference to political, economic, and cultural elites. In authoritarian contexts or amid structural crises in the journalistic field, it may acquire particular political relevance and innovative characteristics, both in editorial and linguistic terms.
The dossier invites scholars to examine the conditions for the emergence, persistence, resistance, and resilience of irreverent journalism; the trajectories of journalists who identify with this stance; the strategies used to challenge different forms of authority; as well as the risks, constraints, and forms of repression they face. Contributions proposing conceptual advances aimed at better defining and understanding irreverent journalism are also welcome.
Important Dates:
Article submission: until July 15, 2026.
Articles accepted: until December 31, 2026.
Edition published: until April 30, 2027.
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