Brasil 247 was the first Brazilian news media company designed for tablets. It launched in March 2011 and had two daily editions with news, articles, and multimedia content covering politics, culture, and other topics. The document analyzes Brasil 247's content, structure, and challenges as one of the first digital news publications optimized for tablets. It found the content was similar to online journalism, with an emphasis on images, videos, and interactive advertisements. However, accessing older editions was difficult as the site only kept the most recent issues available.

1. Yes, iTouch: a case study of the first Brazilian
news media for tablets
Prof. Ms. Soraia Herrador Costa Lima
Professor at Centro Universitário Estácio Radial de São Paulo e Serviço
Nacional de Aprendizagem Comercial (SENAC)
Brazil
Paper submitted to the 13th International Symposium for Online
Journalism
Austin, Texas / April 20-21, 2012

2. Yes, iTouch: a case study of the first Brazilian
news media for tablets
Brasil 247

Released on March, 13th, 2011

Two daily editions

News and articles about culture, politics,
economy, technology, media, agriculture,
celebrities, ecology, sports and trips.

Website

Social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter)

Segmented newspapers in three states and
Brasília, capital of Brazil (Bahia 247, Brasília
247, Rio 247 and Pernambuco 247).

iPads, Android platform and mobile

40.000 downloads (apps) – iPad

3. Yes, iTouch: a case study of the first Brazilian
news media for tablets
Research questions
RQ1: Why is Brasil 247 structured as a digital
version of magazines, both in content and
design?
RQ2: What are the challenges for news

4. Yes, iTouch: a case study of the first Brazilian
news media for tablets
Inside Brasil 247Inside Brasil 247

The vehicle is guidelined by four
standards: interactivity, plurality,
agility and democracy

40 people involved

News agencies

The content of the journal is
hybrid and depends on the
platform that the reader uses.

5. Yes, iTouch: a case study of the first Brazilian
news media for tablets
Content analysisContent analysis

Two daily editions: 6 a.m. / 8 p.m.

Editorships: “Poder” (Power);
“Brasil” (Brazil); “Mundo” (World);
“Economia” (Economy); “Portfolio”
(Portfolio); “Agro” (Agriculture);
“Eco” (Ecology); “Cultura”
(Culture); “Mídia & Tech” (Media &
Technology); “Games & Apps”;
“Esportes” (Sports); “Seu
Dinheiro” (Your Money); “Motor”

6. Yes, iTouch: a case study of the first Brazilian
news media for tablets
Content analysisContent analysis

Bottom part
− “Nova Edição” (New
Edition); “Biblioteca”
(Library); “Últimas
Notícias” (Last News);
“Conteúdo” (Content)

Top part
− Audio volume control;
favorites news
(“Favoritos”), index
(“Índice”), back and
forward icons; share

7. Yes, iTouch: a case study of the first Brazilian
news media for tablets
Content analysisContent analysis

Each edition (rough average)
− 23.9 news not signed (provided by news
agencies or journalists not mentioned)
− 5.3 news with credits to journalists
− 2 articles (the articles appeared only in
the two first months of the vehicle)

8. Yes, iTouch: a case study of the first Brazilian
news media for tablets
Content analysisContent analysis

Texts are always available on the
left side, and images and videos
on the right

Texts amiable

Language is clear, objective and
simple

Humor or incisive comments

Two daily editions: the news aren't
the same and issues are rarely
repeated

Problems

9. Yes, iTouch: a case study of the first Brazilian
news media for tablets
Interactivity, usabilityInteractivity, usability
and navigabilityand navigability

“Ajuda” (Help)

3G or Wi-Fi

iOS or Android

News feed (RSS)

Facebook

Twitter

Contact

10. Yes, iTouch: a case study of the first Brazilian
news media for tablets
Advertising issuesAdvertising issues

5 advertisements in each edition (rough
average)

Interaction

Government publicity (66,6%)

11. Yes, iTouch: a case study of the first Brazilian
news media for tablets
ConclusionConclusion

Its structure has improved during its first year

The publishers and journalists learned how to make a new vehicle for this
technology, and readers are still dealing with how to use all the
possibilities provided by tablets

Journalist content is similar to online journalism

Many images and videos to illustrate the news

Advertisements are very interactive

The vehicle still have problems with revision and it's hard to access the
first issues
− Since February, 2012 you can only access the latest issues (no
more than three weeks)

12. Yes, iTouch: a case study of the first Brazilian
news media for tablets
AcknowlegmentsAcknowlegments

13. Yes, iTouch: a case study of the first Brazilian
news media for tablets
ContactsContacts

soraia.lima@gmail.com

Facebook: Soraia Lima

Twitter: @soraialima