Faculdade de Comunicação da UFBA

What Faculdade de Comunicação da UFBA does

FACOM is a public academic department of the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), established as an independent unit on November 13, 1986, tracing its origins to UFBA's journalism course created in the 1950s. It offers undergraduate programs in Journalism (maximum ENADE concept 5 since 2009), Production in Communication and Culture (Brazil's first such habilitation, created in 1995), and a new Cinema and Audiovisual bachelor's degree launching in 2027. Graduate programs include the Póscom master's and doctorate (CAPES concept 6 indicating international excellence, operating since 1990), the PPG-COMCULT professional master's in Communication and Culture Management and Practices, and a Strategic Communication specialization (Lato Sensu). Supporting infrastructure comprises radio, photography (Labfoto), and audiovisual (LabAV) laboratories, student publications (Revista Fraude since 2004, Revista Já, Jornal da FACOM), the PETCOM Tutorial Education Program, and the AECC Experimental Communication and Culture Agency.

The faculty serves approximately 600 undergraduate students admitted through Brazil's national SISU/ENEM entrance exam system, with no tuition fees charged. Revenue is non-commercial, sourced from Brazilian federal government allocations through the Ministry of Education and from research grants administered by CAPES, CNPq, and FAPESB. Operational activity spans teaching, research, and extension: the Gira Audiovisual student film event showcases approximately 70 audiovisual works, and a partnership with IRDEB/TVE Bahia broadcasts student productions on state television. Research groups include INCT-DD on digital democracy (housed in a new wing inaugurated in 2018), GJOL on accessibility, and Gig@/CCDC on cyberfeminism and digital rights.

External validation is substantial. The institution ranks 7th nationally among Brazilian communication programs in the Folha University Ranking, and alumni hold prominent positions across Brazilian media and culture. Faculty and students have received multiple national research awards in 2023-2025, including the Prêmio Adelmo Genro Filho, Prêmio Intercom de Pesquisa em Comunicação 2026, Prêmio Compós, Prêmio Compolítica, and the Prêmio UFBA de Teses e Dissertações 2025. The institution operates as part of Brazil's federal public higher education system with administrative oversight from the university directorate.

Name

Faculdade de Comunicação da UFBA

Legal name

Faculdade de Comunicação da Universidade Federal da Bahia

Website

https://facom.ufba.br

Company type

Public

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

FACOM is a public communication faculty within the Federal University of Bahia, offering tuition-free undergraduate and graduate programs in journalism, cultural production, and audiovisual studies to approximately 600 students, funded by Brazil's federal government.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Applied Research & Innovation Universities (EDAHAEAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Makerspace, Innovation Lab & Fab Lab Operations (Tools, Safety, Programming) (EDAEAGAI)

Keywords

• Communication education
• Journalism programs
• Graduate research
• Cultural production
• Higher education

Headquarters

HQ city

Salvador, Bahia

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Public Higher Education (Tuition-free): As a public Brazilian university, UFBA/FACOM receives government funding from federal ministry of education and does not charge tuition fees from students
2. Research Grants and Extensions: Funding from CAPES, CNPq, FAPESB and other Brazilian research agencies supporting graduate programs, research groups, and extension projects

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Core offering

FACOM is a public university faculty that delivers tuition-free undergraduate and graduate education in Communication, including Journalism, Communication and Culture Production, Cinema and Audiovisual, and postgraduate research. It also operates academic laboratories, student publications, and community extension projects that integrate teaching, research, and outreach.

Product overview

Faculdade de Comunicação da UFBA (FACOM) is a communication education unit offering undergraduate programs in Journalism, Communication and Culture Production, and Cinema and Audiovisual, alongside graduate programs including Póscom (Master's/Doctorate with CAPES concept 6), PPG-COMCULT (Professional Master's), and Specialization courses. The faculty supports student publications (Revista Fraude since 2004, Revista JaÉ, Jornal da FACOM), academic laboratories (Audiovisual, Photography, Radio), and outreach projects including Em Casa com a FACOM. PETCOM and AECC provide student development through research, publications, and community engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PPG-COMCULT: Professional Master's Program in Management and Practices in Communication and Culture - a postgraduate stricto sensu program focusing on strategic communication management, cultural production, and communication and culture analysis.
• Póscom
• Especialização em Comunicação Estratégica

Products and services

• Bacharelado em Jornalismo
• Bacharelado em Produção em Comunicação e Cultura
• Bacharelado em Cinema e Audiovisual
• PÓSCOM - Programa de Pós-Graduação em Comunicação e Cultura Contemporâneas
• PPG-COMCULT - Mestrado Profissional em Gestão e Práticas em Comunicação e Cultura
• Especialização em Comunicação Estratégica

Quantifiable outcome

• CAPES concept 6 (international excellence) maintained in 2017-2020 and 2021-2024 evaluations
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Embaixada da República Tcheca em BrasíliaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 October 2025Partnership for Czech Film Festival at FACOM celebrating 80 years since end of World War II. Embassy collaborated with FACOM to bring Czech cinema to Salvador, with films displayed October 20-23, 2025.
• Consulado Honorário da República Tcheca em SalvadorminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 October 2025Honorary Consulate of Czech Republic in Salvador partnered with FACOM for the Czech film festival celebrating 80 years since end of World War II.
• Instituto de Radiodifusão Educativa da Bahia (IRDEB/TVE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 August 2019Technical, scientific, cultural and artistic cooperation agreement between UFBA and IRDEB for broadcasting university productions. Signed June 2018. Includes student audiovisual works broadcast on TVE Bahia.
• VIVADANÇA Festival InternacionalminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 May 2019Partnership between VIVADANÇA Festival and FACOM's Written Communication Workshop class for student journalism practice. Students covered the 13-year international dance festival as real-world journalism experience.
• TV UFBAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2018UFBA television producing content for TVE Bahia under the IRDEB agreement. Productions include news programs and student work exhibitions.
• GJOL (Grupo ÁUDIO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with GJOL research group for accessibility webinar during COVID-19 pandemic. Discussed challenges of producing accessible journalism content for people with disabilities.
• Rede Ciberfeministas BRminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFACOM's Gig@ and CCDC research groups participated in organizing the II International Cybers femin ist Forum at FSM 2018, contributing to digital rights and feminist activism discussions.
• INCT-DD (Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Democracia Digital)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigital Democracy research institute housed at FACOM. New wing inaugurated 2018. Professor Nina Santos from FACOM leads research on misinformation and digital communication.
• PETCom (Programa de Educação Tutorial em Comunicação)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner30-year-old PET program producing student publications including Fraude magazine and organizing Frauday events. Connected to Ministry of Education guidelines for teaching, research, and extension.
• LABFOTO (Laboratório de Fotografia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhotography laboratory supporting student work and community projects. Organizes photography weeks and exhibitions. Contributed to Em Casa com FACOM pandemic initiative.
• LABAV (Laboratório de Audiovisual)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAudiovisual laboratory producing student films. Organizes Gira Audiovisual event with 70+ student works. Partnership with TVE for student film exhibitions.
• AECC (Agência Experimental de Comunicação e Cultura)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExperimental communications agency established 2007. Produces JaÉ magazine and community-focused projects. Oriented by professors Beto Severino and Bau Carvalho.
• NCE (Núcleo de Comunicação e Extensão)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunications and Extension Center coordinating community outreach. Organized Em Casa com FACOM pandemic initiative. Coordinates extension projects and community partnerships.
• Proext/UFBAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUFBA's Extension Pró-Reitoria supporting extension projects. Co-sponsor of II Semana de Fotografia and other student initiatives.
• SymplaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTicketing platform used for selling tickets to Frauday magazine launch events. Students purchase event access through Sympla platform.
• ShotgunminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEvent ticketing platform used for Frauday 2023 ticket sales at R$10.00 per ticket.
• Grupo Estado (Estadão)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through Course Estado de Jornalismo Economic program. FACOM students selected for prestigious journalism training program. Alumni and current students participate.
• Jornal CorreiominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBahia-based newspaper organizing Prêmio Correio de Futuro innovation competition. FACOM students participate in teams developing journalistic product ideas.
• Associação Brasileira de Jornalismo Investigativo (Abraji)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for investigative journalism debates at FACOM. Abraji conducts regional events at universities in Northeast Brazil.
• Em Casa com a FACOM PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPandemic initiative partnering with INCT.DD, Labfoto, LabAV, and Radio Lab for daily content including webinars, live streams, and educational videos.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG) - Departamento de Comunicação Social: UFMG's communication department is one of Brazil's largest and most research-productive federal communication programs, offering journalism and social communication with strong CAPES ratings. Comparable to FACOM as a federal faculty with graduate programs targeting national ranking competitiveness.
• Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio) - Departamento de Comunicação: PUC-Rio's communication department is a leading private university journalism and media program in Brazil, regularly ranked among the top communication schools nationally. It competes with FACOM for top applicants and faculty prestige despite differing funding structures.
• Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) - Escola de Comunicação (ECO): UFRJ's Escola de Comunicação is a fellow federal university's communication faculty offering journalism, advertising, and production programs in Brazil. Both share the federal-public model, CAPES-rated graduate programs, and competition for top SISU applicants in communication studies.
• Universidade de São Paulo (USP) - Escola de Comunicações e Artes (ECA): USP's ECA is Brazil's most prominent communication and arts faculty, offering journalism, audiovisual, and library science programs at a top-tier research university. Both are public federal/state universities delivering journalism and audiovisual education with national reputation, making ECA the most direct comparable for competitive positioning.
• Universidade de Brasília (UnB) - Faculdade de Comunicação (FAC): UnB's Faculdade de Comunicação is a federal public university communication faculty offering journalism, audiovisual, and advertising programs in the national capital. Both serve as federal reference points for communication education and compete for CAPES ratings and federal research grants.
• Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) - Departamento de Comunicação: UFRGS's communication department is a leading southern Brazilian federal university program offering journalism, advertising, and audiovisual tracks. Both compete nationally in Folha rankings and CAPES evaluations as federal faculties with comparable program structures.
• Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo (PUC-SP) - Faculdade de Comunicação e Semiótica: PUC-SP's communication faculty is consistently Brazil's top-rated journalism school in private education, with strong ENADE outcomes and CAPES-rated graduate programs. It competes directly with FACOM in national ranking tables and for prestige in Brazilian journalism education.

Regional players

• Universidade Federal da Paraíba (UFPB) - Departamento de Comunicação Social: UFPB's communication department is a Northeast regional federal peer offering journalism and audiovisual programs, sharing the federal public model and competing with FACOM for regional applicants and CAPES graduate program ratings in the same macro-region.
• Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE) - Departamento de Comunicação Social: UFPE's communication department is the leading Northeast Brazilian federal university competitor to FACOM, offering journalism, audiovisual, and production programs in Pernambuco. Both vie for the same regional applicant pool and share similar cultural/regional communication research focus.
• Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC) - Departamento de Comunicação Social: UFC's communication department is another Northeast federal university offering journalism and audiovisual programs. It serves the same regional applicant pool as FACOM in Northeast Brazil and operates under similar federal funding constraints and CAPES evaluation cycles.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/cafacom
• Instagraminstagram.com/facom.ufba
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/faculdade-de-comunica%C3%A7%C3%A3o-da-ufba

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Faculdade de Comunicação da UFBA