Analyzes what kind of information is contained in letters sent to printed media by readers of both sexes in the light of Information Sciences. In considering communication media information mediators, besides producing and reproducing cultural and social standards, the study attempted to identify what the readers, both male and female, write to newspapers and how they discuss the topics presented on their pages; and whether there would be any differences in the argumentation used by each gender; and also what argumentation the printed media uses in order to draw the attention of their current readers and also their prospect readers. Letters spontaneously sent by e-mail to Estado de Minas newspaper were collected during 30 consecutive days and sorted out according to topics and issues. An analysis of the discourse was carried out of 60 letters sent Estado de Minas which made it possible to learn the values the readers resort to, on which hierarchy levels they found their values and in which locations they place their argumentation. Results found have led to the conclusion that men sign almost 80% of letters sent to both papers. However, the values, hierarchies and locations presented in the letters of both genders reproduce the ideological and discursive background of each individual person more than they do the gender of the sender.
Newspapers and reader's letters; Reader's and editors newspaper's opinions; Gender and newspaper information