Autonimic modulation in science dissemination: A look into the work of journalists from Folha de S. Paulo online and from some international news agencies

Abstract

Science dissemination texts employ diverse discursive features aimed at facilitating the understanding of scientific concepts to a non-initiated public. This study aims to assess whether autonimic modulation is, in fact, a platform for discursive heterogeneity in science dissemination texts as well as to evaluate in what proportion it is present in texts written by Brazilian journalists from Folha de S. Paulo Online and journalists from international news agency. To do so, we analyzed a number of texts published in the sections Equilíbrio & Saúde [Balance & Health] and Ciência [Science] from Folha de S. Paulo Online. Surprisingly, we concluded that autonimic modulation is used in the same proportion in those texts, suggesting a high level of homogenization in the local and global modes of news production.