A pioneering organization in Brazil, the Online Journalism Research Group (GJOL) has been engaged in research in the areas of Digital Network Journalism and New Communication Technologies since 1995. In 1997, the GJOL was established as an institutional research group registered in the CNPq Directory and associated with the Graduate Program in Communication and Contemporary Cultures (PósCom) of the School of Communication of the Federal University of Bahia (FACOM | UFBA), as part of the newly created Cyberculture Research Line. Today, it is part of the Communication and Digital Culture Research Line.

Originally created by professors Elias Machado (now at the Federal University of Santa Catarina – UFSC) and Marcos Palacios (Emeritus Coordinator / Senior Consultant), the GJOL currently operates under the coordination of professor Suzana Barbosa (UFBA). The group’s repertoire of research and activities covers topics related to innovations in journalism, studies centered on the subdivision of digital journalism and the intersections with aspects of communication and digital culture.

Thanks to its ongoing projects, training of new researchers and broader scope of activities, the GJOL is now a Research Network, bringing together researchers from various Brazilian universities and in various graduate programs. Since its creation, the work of GJOL researchers has played a decisive role in furthering and consolidating research on digital journalism in the country and in educating top-level researchers.

International cooperation

A leading reference in Brazil in digital journalism research, the GJOL has a long history of international cooperation with the University of Beira Interior and University of Aveiro (Portugal), University of Texas at Austin, National University of Cordoba, National University of Rosario, National University of Austral Patagonia and National University of Villa Maria (Argentina), Monterrey Institute of Technology (Mexico), University of Havana (Cuba), University of Lille (France), University of Vic, University of the Basque Country, Ramon Lllul University, University of Valencia, University of Santiago de Compostella, Pompeu Fabra University, University of Malaga and University of Navarra (Spain). More recently, the group’s members have been participating on research project teams at the University of Porto (Portugal) and University Carlos III de Madrid (Spain). On another front, the group has expanded academic exchange programs with researchers from NOVA University Lisbon (Portugal), Birmingham City University (UK), University of Bremen (Germany), University of Groningen and University of Amsterdam (Netherlands).

Brazilian universities

In addition to international networks, the GJOL has participated in and led national research networks through cooperation agreements with other institutions. Through these networks, it cultivates lasting relationships with researchers and research groups from the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), Federal Fluminense University (UFF), University of Brasília (UnB), Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS), Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), University of São Paulo (USP), Tuiuti do Paraná University (UTP), Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Centro Universitário Jorge Amado (Unijorge), Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), Federal University of Piauí (UFPI), Federal University of Roraima (UFRR), Federal University of Paraíba (UFPB), State University of Paraíba (UEPB), Federal University of Sergipe (UFS), Federal University of Ouro Preto (UFOP), among other institutions of higher learning.

Note that each person earning a doctoral or master’s degree under the scope of the Group automatically becomes a member of the extensive GJOL Network once they accept a faculty position.

Activities

The group’s activities are based on the university’s main pillars (research, education and extension) and have the following goals:

1) Coordinating the research projects of professors of associated Graduate Programs, of students in master’s and doctoral programs and of students in undergraduate programs at all units associated with established Research Networks;

2) Supervised study of the specialized bibliography on digital journalism, and organization of discussion groups, seminars, conventions and conferences;

3) Offering programs on topics related to digital journalism and innovation in journalism for professionals and students;

4) Developing extension projects with the aim of reflecting the research and practice of journalism in digital networks and its implications within contemporary cultural and social contexts.

The results of the GJOL’s studies speak for themselves. This website aims to serve as a repository of the academic production of all researchers associated with the GJOL and as a reference for research in digital network journalism in Brazil.