Quantification of the media exposure of federal government ministries (2003-2014)

• Grant number: 19/06476-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2019
• End date: December 31, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Political Science - Political Behavior
• Principal Investigator: Pedro Feliú Ribeiro
• Grantee: Luís Henrique Alves Cordeiro Martins
• Host Institution: Instituto de Relações Internacionais (IRI). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The present research project aims to improve the measurement of the relevance of federal ministries in the bargain between president and political parties within the framework of Brazilian presidentialism. The fundamental improvement is the insertion of the ministry's media exposure variable in the index that already aggregates dimensions such as positions, budget and investment. Through the refinement of the python algorithm for the automation of data collection on the media exposure of ministries on the covers of the main circulation newspapers in the country, the project proposes the delivery of two central results: a more precise empirical index on the relevance of the ministries and a structured and open access algorithm for gathering text in print media. The results have the potential to contribute to the research agenda on Brazilian coalition presidentialism, specifically on the importance of distributing ministerial positions for the stability of the governing coalition.