The format varies little. There is no defined script and rarely are there questions about more thorny topics. Thus, the interview podcasts that have become a fever on YouTube give candidates time to talk about themselves, tell stories, make jokes and, above all, be seen by an audience that, for the most part, does not follow the political news. The programs are the targets of the marketers who manage the campaigns of the candidates in 2022.
Of the frontrunners for the race for the Presidency of the Republic, only Jair Bolsonaro (PL) has not appeared in at least 1 of the 2 main channels of the genre in Brazil, Flow and Podpah in recent months.
Marketers interviewed by Folha see the format of interview podcasts as the main novelty for this year's election. The relevance puts lawyers specialized in electoral legislation on alert. "There is no rule that regulates these YouTube channels. The electoral law is old, it talks about radio and TV," said lawyer Amilton Augusto.
"In fact, what is valid for radio and TV in terms of prior control of any advertising [positive or negative] does not apply even to internet platforms in general, as they are not public service concessionaires," said Sérgio Ricardo dos Santos, chief advisor to the Superior Electoral Court.
Translated by Kiratiana Freelon