Projor, Instituto para o Desenvolvimento do Jornalismo, is launching the eighth edition of Atlas da Notícia to update Brazil's journalism map. For the first time, the project will systematically map traditional local news outlets alongside journalism initiatives operating primarily on digital platforms such as social media, newsletters, podcasts, messaging apps, and video services.
The expanded census responds to changes in how news is produced and consumed across Brazil. Project coordinators say the rise of individual creators and small teams distributing news through third-party platforms is reshaping the information environment, especially in regions previously considered 'news deserts': municipalities with no local news presence. The audience shift is evident in Reuters Institute findings: social media overtook television as Brazilians’ most-used news source during the pandemic, though social-media news use has since fallen by 19 percentage points over the past decade. The institute also reports that 19% of Brazilians under 25 use AI chatbots for news, describing chatbots as the only growing news source. The new mapping aims to capture these changes and provide a clearer picture of the current media environment.
Initial findings on platform-native journalism are scheduled for release in August, with the comprehensive results of the 2026 census expected by the end of the second semester. Five regional researchers are coordinating the project, supported by hundreds of volunteers, including professors, students, and local contributors, who will collect data from all 5,570 Brazilian municipalities. The data will be accessible through a free API. A new logged-in area is also planned to improve access and data cross-referencing, including updated Human Development Index figures.
Organizations supporting this edition include Google, the Associação Brasileira de Jornalismo Investigativo (Abraji), the Sociedade Brasileira de Estudos Interdisciplinares da Comunicação (Intercom), the Associação Brasileira de Ensino em Jornalismo (ABEJ), and the Associação Brasileira de Pesquisadores em Jornalismo (SBPJor). Each region has a dedicated research coordinator, with teams of communication students and citizen volunteers gathering information on local journalism outlets. Those interested in contributing can register via an online form.
Recent editions of Atlas da Notícia have documented a steady decline in news deserts, driven by the expansion of online journalism. The 2025 census recorded a 7.7% reduction in municipalities without local news outlets, with 251 new digital initiatives added to the database. The number of online journalism projects grew from 5,245 to 5,712, an 8.9% increase over the previous year, far outpacing growth in traditional radio and TV stations. Independent reporting offers a regional illustration of why small digital outlets matter: Columbia Journalism Review reported that Tapajós de Fato, founded in Santarém in 2020, became an impressive information hub for the surrounding Amazonian region. A local journalist quoted by the publication described the problem this way: “We don’t even call it a news desert. It is an absence of information about the region.”
Atlas da Notícia is a collaborative project launched by Projor, a non-profit organization founded in 2002 by journalist Alberto Dines in partnership with Labjor at Unicamp. Projor also coordinates Observatório da Imprensa, Codesinfo, and the Programa de Indicadores de Compromissos com o Público. Technical support comes from Volt Data Lab, which has worked with the project since its inception, providing data analysis and technology services to news organizations and NGOs. Partner associations Abraji, Intercom, ABEJ, and SBPJor contribute expertise in investigative journalism, communication studies, journalism education, and research networking.
Brazil's media sector has undergone rapid digitalization in recent years, mirroring global trends. Digital platforms have enabled more diverse voices to reach local audiences, particularly in underserved areas. The Media Ownership Monitor describes Brazil’s communications market as marked by private-sector dominance and concentrated ownership, alongside the 1988 Federal Constitution’s recognition of complementary public, state, and private communication systems. A map that includes independent, small-scale journalism native to digital platforms can help show where local reporting is available beyond the established media field. Projects such as Atlas da Notícia track these developments and inform public policy, academic research, and industry strategies. Open data and integration with public databases further improve the project's value for those seeking to understand and support independent journalism in Brazil.
