Media ombudsman Faruk Bildirici on the Rome trip and the assessment of opposition media: After the cartelization of the media, advertising and journalism became intertwined

Ethical debates continue regarding the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality taking a large number of journalists on its trip to Rome. Media ombudsman Faruk Bildirici stated, "A journalist cannot have their expenses paid by a news source," while also addressing the debate on opposition media: "We are oppositional; journalism, by its nature, is always oppositional to everything and all power centers. Because we object to all power centers and voice our criticisms. But one must not forget, we are oppositional, we are not the opposition."

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Media ombudsman Faruk Bildirici on the Rome trip and the assessment of opposition media: After the cartelization of the media, advertising and journalism became intertwined

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 questions from Mustafa Büyüksipahi, Faruk Bildirici stated that the trip was beyond debate within the framework of ethical values and that it could not be accepted 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 expenses. Except for exceptional circumstances, a journalist does not attend invitations. I do not understand why my journalist colleagues 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 improve... So that deficiencies are removed. We do it so that the public can benefit in a more accurate way.

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 colleagues 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, Anadolu Agency is 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 colleagues who went there are developing 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 praises 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 a large part of the media under its control 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 government? Some colleagues object to us saying "opposition media," saying, "We are not oppositional." And I tell them, "We are oppositional; journalism, by its nature, is always oppositional to everything and all power centers. Because we object to all power centers and voice our criticisms. But one must not forget, we are oppositional, we are not the opposition."

News Source: 12punto