The multidimensional decay in the media and the pathetic perception of 'journalism'

It hasn't been that long... What hasn't changed in 20 years?

I don't know if it stems from the political climate in Turkey, but we are facing major problems... As a journalist, I first want to talk about the decay in the media.

In the last year, I have faced the relentless pollution in the media world from completely different angles.

In the past, we only knew about, heard of, and were disgusted by the petty self-interest calculations of pathetic little journalists, which were at least as small as they were themselves.

Those who promote their lover's entertainment venue, those who eat and drink for free in restaurants, those who borrow money from certain famous business people, those who try to introduce thieves and scoundrels as "business people," those who obtain footage of people cheating on their spouses and turn to extortion through threats, those who stay for days in ultra-luxury hotels referred to as "seven-star," those who are showered with gifts at New Year's, those who claim to be economic journalists but only interview big bosses, those who act as matchmakers in romantic affairs, those who construct journalism entirely upon these uglinesses and more... And so on...

Among them, I have encountered wretches who boast about having traveled for free 220 times, as well as real con artists who call honest journalists from the side of the people they deceived with the promise of deleting a news story, speaking on the phone as if they were old friends to trap their victims...

For years, I have tried to explain the sensitivity of this issue to everyone around me as best as I could.

Because if the reins are lost in communication with PR company representatives, corporate representatives, and bosses, a journalist can suddenly find themselves in debt.

The traps are also extremely frightening.

For example, the invitation, "Can we have a tea or coffee, so we can get to know you," is extremely dangerous.

Just think, you are practicing journalism by saying "Rights, justice, labor," but you are slurping coffee at the Divan Hotel with a consultant for the 'gang of five.' How ugly, how difficult to explain, isn't it?

Someone might come out and say, "A journalist can meet with anyone."

Of course they can meet, but where they meet, in whose presence they meet, and how they secure themselves is extremely important.

Although, before we even get to a poor journalist meeting with the press consultant of the 'gang of five,' there is so much more, isn't there?

This is a country where 'beyond-respectable' profiles, those who have packed many management roles and positions into their long lives, provide 'consultancy services' to Turkey's richest bosses and the financiers of reactionary structures.

I am a witness to how those who lecture society on morality on screens, in newspaper columns, and on social media accounts, and who talk about justice, enlightenment, and progressivism, are actually covering up the truth for the sake of such petty calculations. They didn't just cover it up. They also left those who defend journalism alone.

Those who would call every day while in important positions, drawling, "Boss, honestly the issue isn't as you wrote, please I request you to remove the news," start wearing out the doors of managers who are obsessed with bonuses if they are not successful.

They show the stick under the cloak by saying, "We placed ads, if this news is not removed, we will have problems with the agency, consider yourself warned." This pathetic and base threat is taken very seriously by equally pathetic people.

Setting aside any sense of shame or embarrassment, a pseudo-advertiser stands before you with a mouth spread here and there and a corporate tone of voice, saying: "We have to remove this news."

No, we don't, we didn't remove it, and we will not remove it from now on either.

There are many words to be said, many truths to tell...

This is a broad issue and it is not really possible to convey it in a single article...

I will continue...