'Rome trip' tension between Deniz Zeyrek and İsmail Saymaz

A debate broke out on live television between journalists İsmail Saymaz and Deniz Zeyrek, who were in Italy with İmamoğlu.

When Zeyrek said, "I don't really defend these types of trips, nor do I approve of them," Saymaz replied, "Brother, you described it as if it were something shameful, but there is no shame in it at all!"

The hotel, which drew attention with its accommodation fees reaching up to 100 thousand TL, continues to be a subject of debate. Most recently, a heated discussion between the two journalists who participated in the trip took place on live television and made headlines:

HERE ARE THOSE MOMENTS:

Deniz Zeyrek: I don't really defend these types of trips, nor do I approve of them. I wish institutions could participate in such trips with their own resources...

İsmail Saymaz: Brother, there is nothing here that cannot be approved of, I mean, there is no need for such excuses! I don't agree with you. What is there not to approve of? Didn't you and I go on trips together! This is not something shameful. These trips have been happening for as long as I can remember.

Deniz Zeyrek: I couldn't explain myself, İsmail, one minute.

İsmail Saymaz: Brother, you described it as if it were something shameful, but there is no shame in it at all! I would go again. I don't think like you. You just joined, and I joined too. It's as if you are offering an excuse; what excuse would I be offering?

Deniz Zeyrek: İsmail, it's not an excuse, look, one would wish that...

İsmail Saymaz: Look, the ideal is something else... You can say that the ideal is this, but what is the point of describing a news trip as if one had fallen into a life of sin.

Deniz Zeyrek: That's what I'm saying, but you're not listening to me; one would wish it weren't like this.

İsmail Saymaz: I understood you, brother, I understood you, but how many times have you come on these trips? What is it that you don't approve of? It has been like this for years... That's what I'm saying.

Deniz Zeyrek: You are twisting my words right now, İsmail! Look, I am saying; one would wish that, just like in civilized countries, whatever the rules of this business are, they would apply to us too. I mean, corporate companies set very strict rules.

İsmail Saymaz: Look, the fact that the procedure has been this way does not make the journalist who goes a freeloader. With municipal resources... This is not a junket. It is not a dealer meeting for companies.

Deniz Zeyrek: Did I say such a thing?

İsmail Saymaz: It's not what you said, but the criticisms lead to that conclusion. It's as if the journalists were being treated as if they were taken to a dealer meeting.

Deniz Zeyrek: No, it doesn't lead to that conclusion. İsmail, I didn't say such a thing. İsmail, you are really answering without understanding what I am saying.

I am saying that the way it is being discussed is wrong. I mean, there are two elements. I am saying that you have not left a media that can do this with its own resources. Therefore, media members participate in such trips; one would wish it weren't like this.

Media organizations should go with their own resources. For example, you could say, 'I have a representative in Rome. They will cover it.' Secondly, when you go, are you able to do journalism or not? That is the issue! If you are experiencing this situation here, that is a separate journalistic debate...

I am not saying it's a 'sweet' trip or a 'cushy' trip. I mean, we are not talking about a trip where you go to companies and they put a Rolex watch in your room. Journalists have lost the opportunity to cover such trips with their own institutions. This was done by this government; the media was brought to this state.

You don't need to take this personally, nor do you need to defend yourself as a journalist. This is a more serious problem; otherwise, what fault does the journalist who is there have?