The use of newspapers as historical sources – a methodological synthesis

Abstract

The article discusses the use of newspapers as historical sources, and intends to propose a set of procedures applicable to the historiographic analysis of this type of sources. The exemplifications – with a view to illustrating each of the aspects that were before discussed in a theoretical perspective – focuses on Brazil at the beginning of the 19th century, in which newspapers had mainly a political purpose and still dealt with short runs, usually commanded by a small group of people. Meanwhile, the most typical situation of other moments in the history of the Press, such as those in which we already have a network of markets and newspapers start to deal with greater circulation, is also addressed. The purpose of the article is in line with a methodological discussion on this type of historical source, which is the newspaper.