Abstract

As intolerance is an element present in different social experiences, it is possible to identify practices around the world that represent violence and intolerance concerning freedom of expression and information. They take the form of censorship, prohibitions, intimidation and physical violence against news producers. We can also consider the constitution of media monopolies, the restricted definition in the concept of news and the criteria of newsworthy as well as the insufficiency in the training of media professionals. The objective of this chapter is to offer a study on the relationship between media, intolerance and religious violence. Therefore, a methodological path was drawn up taking The Report on Intolerance and Religious Violence in Brazil (2011–2015): Preliminary Result as a case study. The report is the result of a survey promoted by the Human Rights Ministry of the Brazilian Government, which gathered data of national scope, from October 2011 to December 2015. This chapter develops the analysis of elements contained in Chapter 3 of the report, Data related to cases of intolerance and religious violence in Brazil reported by the written press, with attention to two elements directly related to journalism: (1) the low incidence of news about religious intolerance and violence; and (2) trends in news production (editorial line).