Guardians of Journalism and Free Expression: Brazil's CDJor Coalition in Democratic Flux

Abstract

This article analyzes the interplay between civic activism and communicative resilience in safeguarding freedom of expression and journalistic integrity, centering on the understudied Brazil's Coalition in Defense of Journalism (CDJor) that emerged to counteract systemic persecution of the press, and eroding public trust under Jair Bolsonaro's authoritarian regime. Using a multi-dimensional qualitative approach, the study explores two intertwined strands: the social movements dynamics, which include the coalition's lifecycle, collaborative partnerships, and governance models; and communicative resilience, which examines how CDJor has strategized to overcome challenges and achieve initial achievements despite structural barriers. It concludes that a defining feature of CDJor's communicative resilience lies in its refusal to normalize the belligerent press-state relations institutionalized by Bolsonaro. Instead, it championed democratic restoration, cultivating shared narratives about journalism's societal role and mobilizing cross-organizational communication channels for counter-repression. Following the political transition to Lula da Silva's administration, CDJor has strategically pivoted from reactive resistance to proactive adaptation, prioritizing dialogue and institutional collaboration in a more pluralistic yet still precarious democratic environment. This shift underscores its flexibility and dual imperative: ensuring vigilance against ongoing threats to freedom of expression while leveraging its political influence to enhance media integrity and restoring public trust in journalism.