The MST, its communication and university: a study of the MST site and the movement partnership with the UFJF

Abstract

This article aims at doing a reflection on social movements and their relation to communication media and to the university, focusing the Landless Rural Workers Movement (MST- in Portuguese). Firstly is made a brief historical account of land dispute in Brazil until the MST foundation. Afterwards it is described the way the movement is organized and how it acts in their fights. The main landless fight’s objectives are presented. The second part of this article is addressed to think on mass communication and how it represents the social movements. By contrast a MST communication vehicle is analyzed: the MST site. At the article’s end some questions about the universities’ duty to society and how it should occur are aroused. As an experience of this university’s commitment, the Social Service College work at Federal University of Juiz de Fora is related.