Os testemunhos na cobertura de um desastre socioambiental: papéis e potências para uma nova sensibilidade

This paper analyses the coverage of the disaster after the passage of an extratropical cyclone and flooding in the municipality of Muçum (RS), which occurred in September 2023, in the newspapers Zero Hora and Correio do Povo. The goal is to understand howsourceswere mobilized and, particularly, how eyewitness sources were configured. Using a relational approach to communication, we examined the activation of these testimonies, focusing on the moral perspectives employed in the narratives of the affected individuals, questioning the ethics involved and the creation of greater socio-environmental sensitivity regarding the event. Pertaining to the use of non-eyewitness sources, Zero Hora prioritized military sources, while Correio do Povo gave more visibility to political sources. Among the findings, we highlight that both newspapers used testimonies similarly, seeking greater engagement with the audience, primarily through emotional means.