Media ombudsman Faruk Bildirici: "The defenses of the friends who went to Rome are very surprising"

Veteran journalist, author, and media ombudsman Faruk Bildirici evaluated the ethical dimensions of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality taking a large number of journalists to Rome on a private jet for 12punto.

Responding to Mustafa Büyüksipahi's questions, Faruk Bildirici stated that the trip is beyond debate within the framework of ethical values and that it is impossible to accept it according to journalistic principles.

Here are the prominent statements from Faruk Bildirici's narrative on the protection of journalism and ethical values:

- A journalist cannot have their expenses paid by a news source. A journalist can only attend an invitation if their institution covers the costs. Except for exceptional circumstances, a journalist does not attend invitations. I do not understand why my journalist friends act as if they are learning these rules for the first time. Because by opposing these rules, they put themselves in a difficult position and, unfortunately, cast a shadow over the work they do.

- There must be a wall between the editorial desk and the advertising department. There must be a red line. This rule is being violated. Since the 1980s, the ownership structure of the media has changed. After the cartelization of the media, advertising and journalism became intertwined.

- We say, "Our job is critical journalism." We criticize all power centers, political centers, and economic power centers. Why do we criticize? So that they may correct themselves... So that deficiencies may be removed. We do it so that the public can benefit more accurately.

Regarding the Rome trip, it is said, "Well, there was a very important event in Rome. I mean, the European Olympic Games will be held in Istanbul, Turkey. The contract for this is being signed. Isn't this news?"...

There are friends who defend it this way. Yes, it is news, but the fact that it is news does not require you to go there on the budget of İmamoğlu, or rather, the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. Why do I say this? Because look, there is Anadolu Agency there, İHA is there, Demirören News Agency is there, Hürriyet is there, Milliyet is there. Now, for God's sake, do they not have the money? If there was such big news, how many lines did you write? Please let us look back; how much news has appeared in newspapers and on television after May 17 regarding the hosting of the European Olympic Games in Istanbul? Unfortunately, our journalist friends who went there have developed a relationship of dependency and bias with the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, that is, with İmamoğlu.

Faruk Bildirici also answered the question from Mustafa Büyüksipahi, "Could the political parties, municipalities, and mayors we call the opposition be establishing their own partisan media?" as follows:

"Politicians, wherever they are in the world, want media that does not criticize them and only flatters them. In the last 22 years, Turkey has seen a very negative and major example of how partisan journalism is done under the Justice and Development Party government. And we see new examples every day. The political power has already taken control of a large part of the media and made it its own partisan outlet. Now, if opposition parties follow the same path—which we see they are trying to do—I think they will harm themselves as well.

- Apart from journalists, who will point out the mistakes of a politician, a power holder, or someone in authority? Some friends object to us calling it "opposition media," saying, "We are not opposition." I tell them, "We are opposition; journalism, by its nature, is always in opposition to everything and all centers of power. Because we object to all power centers and voice our criticisms. But one must not forget this: we are opposition, we are not the opposition party."