Negotiating “New” Narratives

Abstract

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is currently in the midst of an extraordinary period of mega-event hosting. While a large number of articles have been keen to illustrate the transformative potential and dilemmas of utilizing mega-events to advance an urban agenda, less understood is the role that media play in the construction of the “media geography” of mega-events. This research examines the collective narratives crafted by five Western international news outlets that emerged in the lead up to Brazil’s 2014 Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup. Incorporating interviews with international and new media journalists from a number of organizations, we illustrate the difficulty that foreign journalists faced in their attempts to represent the circumstances of “two Brazils”—one that was hosting a global event and another that is mired in structural injustice. We also highlight the role new media played in shifting the representative frame as Rio de Janeiro prepared for the tournament.