'Independent journalism is not a dream, it is a matter of organized struggle'

The panel, moderated by Head of the Journalism Department Prof. Dr. Süleyman İrvan, featured Gerçek Gündem Editor-in-Chief Seyhan Avşar, 12 Punto Editor-in-Chief Mustafa Büyüksipahi, and BirGün Newspaper Health Editor Sibel Bahçetepe as speakers. At the opening of the panel, communication academic Dr. İrem Yeniceler Kortak, who passed away recently, was also commemorated. 

Prof. Dr. Gül Esra Atalay: "Independence is indispensable for journalism"

Delivering the opening speech of the panel, Dean of the Faculty of Communication Prof. Dr. Gül Esra Atalay emphasized that independence is an indispensable principle for the journalism profession. Atalay stated, “Independence is an essential concept for journalism. We can discuss this from many perspectives, such as being independent from capital, politics, and popularity. However, today we are facing another dependency: algorithms. These invisible dynamics that emerge with digital technologies guide journalists in many areas, from agenda selection to content language. This makes the issue of independence even more complex. Today's journalist must seek ways to remain independent not only from governments or economic structures but also from digital systems.” Prof. Atalay concluded her speech by stating that she had posed a question to the speakers regarding whether journalists are exposed to the guidance of algorithms while working.

Esra Çınar: "We declared October 21 as a symbolic day celebrated as Independent Journalism Day"

Media Academy Association (MAKDER) Vice President and Arel University Faculty of Communication Research Assistant Esra Çınar began her opening speech on behalf of MAKDER by commemorating the young communication academic Dr. İrem Yeniceler Kortak, who passed away recently. Stating that this panel was brought to life through the partnership of the Journalism Department, the Journalism Club, and MAKDER, Çınar expressed that they see Üsküdar Communication as the flagship of communication faculties with the events it organizes. Emphasizing that this panel carries a special meaning, Esra Çınar said: “It is an honor for us to be the non-governmental organization that celebrates October 21 as ‘Independent Journalism Day’ for the first time in Turkey. Independent journalism is not just a technical issue; it is also a moral stance. We consider it our duty to pass this awareness on to young communicators. As MAKDER, our goal is to strengthen the flow of information between the media sector and academia, to act as a bridge between young communicators and the sector, and to support communication education."

Melek Aydın: "Independent journalism is reporting the truth for the public interest without being tied to any power"

Üsküdar University Journalism Club President Meryem Aydın also gave a speech on behalf of the club at the opening of the panel and emphasized the importance of independent journalism. Meryem Aydın underlined that the definition of the concept of independent journalism needs to be rethought from the perspective of young journalists. Aydın said: “Independent journalism is pursuing the truth and the public interest without being tied to any authority, institution, or power. With this understanding, as the Journalism Club, we carry out our work by centering professional solidarity, ethical values, and free thought. We see writing news not just as a profession, but also as a social responsibility. This panel reminded us once again not only of the technical aspect of the journalism profession but also of its conscientious dimension,” she said.

Prof. Dr. Süleyman İrvan: “Independent journalism is the DNA of journalism”

Following the opening speeches, the panel began. Moderating the panel, Head of the Journalism Department Prof. Dr. Süleyman İrvan touched upon the date of October 21 and said: “In recent years, many people celebrate October 21 as ‘World Journalists' Day,’ but there is no such day celebrated in the world; it is a fabricated day. When I researched this a bit, I saw that October 21 actually corresponds to the founding year of Tercüman-ı Ahval, the first private newspaper published in 1860. I said, if we have such a journalism day, let's at least name it correctly and call it Independent Journalism Day. This year, with the contribution of the Media Academy Association, we wanted to crown this day with a panel,” he said.

Touching upon the historical roots of independent journalism in his speech, İrvan emphasized that independence is in the DNA of journalism: “When we look at the history of journalism, the first newspapers were independent newspapers. They generally always had trouble with authorities. For example, Benjamin Harris, who published the first newspaper in America, could only publish one issue because his newspaper was shut down for publishing a critical news story. We also have a tradition of independent journalism in Turkey that started with Tercüman-ı Ahval,” he said.

Seyhan Avşar: “Independence in journalism means not compromising on red lines"

Gerçek Gündem Editor-in-Chief Seyhan Avşar recounted the struggle for independent journalism through her personal experiences in her speech at the panel. Emphasizing that she was a “protesting student” during her university years, Avşar said, “At that time, I would protest speakers I thought were not independent and leave the classroom. Today, being together with young journalists at a university excites me.” Avşar began her speech by commemorating Sabiha Sertel, Turkey's first female investigative journalist. Reminding that Sertel was exiled from the country in 1945 due to her anti-war publications, Avşar said, “There is a legacy left to us by Sabiha Sertel; the legacy of journalists in exile and in prison. Very little has changed from 1945 to today. At that time, anti-war publications were punished, and today similar pressures continue,” she stated.

Touching upon the definition of independent journalism, Avşar said that fully independent publishing has become almost impossible under today's conditions: “Our ideal is to publish independently from state authority, politics, and capital, but in today's Turkey, there is no completely independent institution. Even the Cumhuriyet newspaper, which has a foundation structure, cannot be considered fully independent. I worked there for years too. However, as idealistic journalists, we still try to stay away from power centers as much as possible.”

Stating that she has 19 criminal cases against her, Avşar said, “In none of them was the allegation of fake news proven. I can even receive sentences for news based on documents. This is a form of pressure experienced not only by me but by all journalists.” Emphasizing that both opposition and pro-government media members are insecure in Turkey, Avşar said, “Today, even a media executive close to the government can be arrested. No journalist in this country is completely safe,” she said.

Stating that independent journalism means “standing by the truth under all circumstances,” Avşar addressed young communicators with these words: “Journalism is not a job to be done without love. This profession requires courage. Every sentence you write, every word you say has the potential to lead you to detention tomorrow. But still, one should not give up on writing and speaking. Telling the truth should be our red line.” Emphasizing that the most valuable thing in journalism is field expertise and producing exclusive news, Avşar gave the following advice to students: “The pinnacle of the profession is reporting. Be the best in your field. If you are a courthouse reporter, be the most impactful courthouse reporter in Turkey. Health, economy, or culture, it doesn't matter; what matters is that you do journalism that defends the public's right to receive news.” 

Sibel Bahçetepe: "Independent journalism is possible, but the conditions are harsh”

BirGün Newspaper Health Editor Sibel Bahçetepe conveyed the change in the ownership structure in journalism and its effects on the profession in her speech at the panel. Drawing attention to the existence of journalist-origin bosses in the pre-1980 period, Bahçetepe said, “At that time, there were bosses who came from journalism and published according to journalistic principles. Now this tradition has largely disappeared.”

Emphasizing that doing independent journalism is difficult but not impossible, Bahçetepe stated that this situation requires a struggle at both institutional and individual levels: “It is not possible to be fully independent even within an institution. Processes that lead to self-censorship can be experienced over time. However, some journalists can still remain independent by maintaining their personal stance in the medium they are in.”

Bahçetepe stated that digital media platforms, in particular, have opened a new space for individual journalists and that there is a serious increase in the number of journalists broadcasting on platforms like YouTube: "Names like Ruşen Çakır, Nevşin Mengü, and Ünsal Ünlü are prominent examples in this field. Even if these journalists receive advertisements or sponsorships, they try to maintain their journalistic line. The important thing is that the support received does not affect the journalism.” Emphasizing that economic sustainability is one of the most fundamental problems for independent journalism, Bahçetepe stated that society should take responsibility in this regard: "It is very difficult to carry out this work without advertising revenue. The subscription system has not fully settled. Yet, support that could be given for even the price of a cigarette could keep independent journalism alive. The public should also take on this responsibility a little bit.”

Giving examples from health journalism, her area of expertise, in her speech, Bahçetepe stated that public responsibility is also weakening in this area: “We experienced examples such as non-experts appearing on television during the coronavirus period. The value of real journalism and evidence-based publishing is understood even more in such times.”

Emphasizing that journalism is a profession too difficult to be done without love, Bahçetepe said, “There are economic difficulties, legal processes, and threats. But still, there are many colleagues of ours who resist. Difficulties can be overcome.” Bahçetepe continued her words as follows: "Protecting journalists is not just about applauding. It requires giving support, subscribing, sharing the broadcast, and following the news. Only then can independent journalism truly exist.” 

Mustafa Büyüksipahi: "Independent journalism is not a dream; it is a matter of organized struggle"

The final speaker of the panel, 12 Punto Editor-in-Chief Mustafa Büyüksipahi, began his speech by emphasizing that independent journalism is the cornerstone of the journalism profession: “The foundation of journalism is independence. This cannot be explained only by not receiving advertisements; it is about keeping alive objective journalism that is verified for accuracy and corrected when mistakes are made.” 

Stating that there was not such an intense climate of pressure in the early periods of his journalism career, which he started in 2000, Mustafa Büyüksipahi said that over time, advertising pressures from patronage structures became visible. Explaining how systematic censorship began by saying, “It was implied, even if it wasn't explicitly stated, that you could not report on a bank that advertises in the newspaper.” Pointing out that today, journalists are judged even for news they convey from other sources, not just what they produce themselves, Mustafa Büyüksipahi shared his experiences during his time as an executive at the Cumhuriyet newspaper.

Drawing attention to the relationship independent journalism has established with digital platforms, Büyüksipahi said that the algorithmic revenue models offered by large digital media provide temporary solutions and that becoming dependent on these systems creates another type of restrictive structure. “Sustainable journalism cannot be done by relying on platforms like Facebook and Google. We must create our own revenue models and strengthen the trust and support between us and the reader,” he stated.

Stating that journalism should be mentioned together with ethics, Büyüksipahi said, “We should add an ‘E’, meaning ethics, to the 5W1H. Independence is not just a technical definition; it is also a conscientious and ethical stance.” Emphasizing that journalism has undergone a transformation with the change in news consumption habits but its essence remains the same, Büyüksipahi concluded his words as follows: “This profession is a profession of passion. Once you start, you cannot easily quit.”