John Dewey, Walter Lippmann e Robert E. Park: diálogos sobre públicos, opinião pública e a importância da imprensa

Abstract

The article discusses contributions of the thinking of the so-called Chicago School on issues such as nature of the public, the formation of public opinion and the role of the press in such process. To this end, it rebuilds and explores the dialogue that took place during the 1920s between two of the main authors of this school – John Dewey and Robert E. Park – with the journalist Walter Lippmann – dialogues developed from the authors’ comments and criticisms about two of Lippmann’s books: ‘Public Opinion’ and ‘The Phantom Public’. In an attempt to explore central elements of the thoughts of these authors, the article’s reflections focus on two aspects: the definitions and understandings of the nature of the public and of public opinion, the importance of communication and the media in shaping public opinion.