This article shows our analysis of the 509 papers presented at the Brazilian Association of Researchers in Journalism (SBPJor) conferences between 2003 and 2007. The analyses were based on four reference categories: 1) types of research; 2) formal standardization; 3) the type of methodological models; 4) the writers’ level of training. The goal is to identify the level of professionalization in specialized studies in journalism, highlighting the types of research and manuals, theoretical influences, and prevailing methodological methods. The main results highlight the predominance of doctoral writers and empirical research. We also noticed a lack of adherence to formal standardization.
