Qualitative research with the purpose of investigating information needs as well as the forms and mechanisms for its procurement by representative institutions in their role of opinion makers. Such needs are related to each entity’s objectives and involve political and managerial aspects. The study deals mainly with the managerial aspects, in describing information search behavior, resources that are used in this search, and the use of information itself, which is generally meant to work as an input for positions to be assumed and for the influence that entities intend to exert. A sample of nine institutions was selected for the study, being it related to the following sectors: industry,education, unions, labor, banking, women, black culture and consumers. Triangulation was used as a means for collecting data, with complementary use of informal interviews, questionnaire and document analysis. The results show that to the studied entities, paper sources and Intermet are equally important; informal communication does not constitute the main informational resource; there is convergence, both regarding information needs and behavior in searching the information that is of interest to the entities.

Author: Dulce Maria Baptista