A divulgação de fake news durante a catástrofe climática no Rio Grande do Sul em 2024 : uma análise retórica de argumentos e falácias

Abstract

Fake news is a term that has been circulating in the daily lives of thousands of people, especially in journalistic environments and on social media. With this in mind, and in light of studies in argumentation and rhetoric, this work takes as its object of analysis the report entitled “Destroyed donations; the death of Caramelo and more: 20 fake news about Rio Grande do Sul,” published by the digital newspaper Metrópoles. The report brings together twenty false news items, ten of which were produced in partnership with the website Boatos.org.Considering the problems that false news, together with fallacious arguments, can generate, the main objective of this study is specifically focused on analyzing the twenty fake news items reported. The specific objectives consist of classifying the types of fallacies and arguments through rhetorical studies. Therefore, a qualitative-interpretative research approach was used as a specific methodological framework. Although the news items are portrayed in a situation of climate crisis, concepts of denialist bias were not addressed.As theoretical foundation, the authors Marcuschi (2008), Lage (1987), Perelman and Olbrechts-Tyteca (2005), Benassi (2007), Costa (2008), Mateus (2018), and Ferreira (2010) were used. This study contributes to the classification and understanding of the types of fallacies and arguments present in the twenty pieces of fake news, as well as to reflecting on the care that should be taken when sharing news without verifying it on social media or within one’s own social circle.