As the Crow Flies

Have you ever heard the name Tarık Yılmaz?

His close friends, family, coworkers, and perhaps some of his colleagues might know it.

But you may have never heard it at all…

And no one did anything to ensure you would, not even the institution where he worked for years…

Tarık Yılmaz was a 40-year-old journalist. He passed away the other day after suffering a heart attack at a young age.

(Tarık Yılmaz)

Yet, he didn't even make the news in the newspaper where he worked for years…

He was one of the editors at Sözcü Newspaper until he left the organization in 2019. He was one of the unsung heroes behind the staff that made Sözcü what it is today.

He was one of the press workers who ensured that thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands, of news stories you read reached you…

Then he stepped into the world of PR. One of those who became disillusioned with the profession…

He succumbed to a heart attack at a very young age. However, apart from Oda TV, his death had no news value for other media outlets.

Even the birthdays of the children of advertising managers and editors-in-chief make it into the newspapers…

But if a hardworking press employee passes away and doesn't even get a mention on news websites, then woe to us…

Let's say we couldn't find space in the printed newspapers. Couldn't we even find space to write two lines about him on the website?

I worked at Sözcü Newspaper for many years. This lack of loyalty from an organization I always felt a sense of belonging to and always saw as family saddened me twice over…

Is it really that hard to say goodbye?

Did Tarık not contribute anything at all?

This is, unfortunately, the point journalism has reached in Turkey.

There is no appreciation.

There is no loyalty.

You know there is a series now called 'As the Crow Flies' (Kuş Uçuşu) that is breaking ratings records.

It tells the story of the intrigues, ambitions, and backstabbing in the television world…

Even we, while watching it, think, "Come on, that's an exaggerated script."

The screenwriters didn't write enough.

Add disloyalty to the end of the script as well…

Today, I was going to talk about 'As the Crow Flies' on YouTube with Özge Uzun…

About whether the press has really become this corrupt…

It has reached such a state that there are no words left to say.

Dear Tarık did not receive as much value in the Turkish press as a fictional script… Just like all hardworking journalists…

Rest in peace, Tarık. At least your coworkers will remember you with love.

If we had even the slightest debt to you, may it be forgiven.

But the real question is, do you forgive us?