“I Didn’t Cry, But I Came Close”

the marks of information control in Piauí between Democracy and dictatorship (1963-1975)

Abstract

This article examines the forms of information control the press of Piauí between 1963 and 1975, seeking to understand the relationship between journalism and political power in different contexts. It is based on the hypothesis that the control of the press in Piauí did not begin with the 1964 civil-military coup, but rather constitutes a process of continuity and transformation, in which practices already present during the democratic period were intensified and reorganized under the authoritarian regime. To this end, the study draws on local newspapers, documents produced by intelligence agencies, and journalists’ memoirs, which are still underexplored in historiography. The analysis shows that, prior to the coup, there were already forms of interference in journalistic production, especially during moments of political crisis. With the consolidation of the dictatorship, these practices became articulated with broader mechanisms, including surveillance, state funding, and the production of narratives aligned with the regime. By considering these different dimensions, the article contributes to a broader understanding of the relationship between the press and political power, highlighting regional specificities and historical continuities in information control.