Nayara Henriques
Print newspapers were the main source of information in 1964. Radio and TV also had their own importance, but the news coming off the presses still had the power to dictate the day's agenda. The civil-military coup was no different: newspapers reported the latest events while propagandizing in favor of the new order that was taking hold in Brazil.
The belief in the impartiality of the press made everything even more subtle. If the
Jornal do Brasil
featured on its front page "Goulart heads to an unknown destination and Brazil returns to normal" (04/03/1964), it seemed likely that everything was normal.
Diário de Notícias
warned, on 03/31/1964, that it was the “Hour of Decision,” and the following day alerted about an “Imminent Fratricidal Struggle in the Country.” On the 3rd day, it was the day of “Resurrection,” when “Vitória restored Christian Peace in Brazil,” so Brazil was victorious after all. By the way,
The Newspaper
announced in bold letters "Victorious the Revolution."
In return, the
Última Hora
reported the destruction of its newsroom on April 2 as "a spontaneous action by elements celebrating the so-called victory of democracy" and ran "JK: – Legality cannot be against the people" on the front page the following day.
The "Historic Edition of the Revolution" of the magazine
O Cruzeiro
The cover featured a smiling Magalhães Pinto, governor of Minas Gerais, and celebratorily documented the events that would dictate the next 21 years.
Support from the press was essential to sustaining the military government, helping to promote the idea that Brazil had undergone a “revolution” and, because of that, was protected from the communist threat – the great enemy forged by the Coup's supporters. Public opinion was directly influenced by the editorials. And the newspapers, some time later, suffered under the censorship of the authoritarian government.
Image description: The image is a black-and-white newspaper front page. At the top, "JORNAL DO BRASIL" is written in large letters. Below, there is a main headline reading "GOULART TOMA RUMO DESCONHECIDO E O BRASIL VOLTA À NORMALIDADE" ("GOULART HEADS IN UNKNOWN DIRECTION AND BRAZIL RETURNS TO NORMALCY"). The photo shows a crowd in front of a tall building, with trees in the background. Below the headline, there is a caption reading "A GRANDE MARCHA" ("THE GREAT MARCH"). On the right, there is text placed vertically, but it cannot be fully read. Beneath the main headline, there is another line reading "FESTA DA VITÓRIA LEVA ÀS RUAS 1 MILHÃO DE PESSOAS" ("VICTORY CELEBRATION BRINGS 1 MILLION PEOPLE TO THE STREETS"). At the bottom, there is a photo of three men in formal attire, possibly politicians, standing side by side.Sem autoria.
Primeira página do Jornal do Brasil
. Jornal do Brasil, Rio de Janeiro, 02 de abril de 1964. Acervo Biblioteca Nacional.