Journalist Özlem Akarsu Çelik appeared as a guest on the March 14 episode of "Söz Hakkı," a show prepared and hosted by Yıldız Tar. The broadcast, described by Tar as "a mix of sharing concerns and worries," delved into topics such as Turkey's recent press history, the meaning of independent journalism, the state of opposition media, political pressures, and the relationship between politics and the media.
Çelik, reflecting on the current era, noted a significant shift in the journalism profession. "We are living in what I struggle to define differently - the era of the spectacle society. Everyone has become a part of it, transformed into figures of tabloid. Journalists have also received their share of this change," she said. This departure from journalistic norms like avoiding being the subject of the news, maintaining transparency, and keeping a low profile was highlighted as a worrying trend.
Rediscovering the essence of journalism
Discussing the essence of journalism, Çelik emphasized the importance of field reporting. "Journalism is done on the field, not from behind a desk. Relying solely on phone sources and then participating in 'Deep Analysis' of a party could make you a part of a manipulation. To avoid this, one must always be active on the ground. Journalism is for the public good, not personal gain," she explained. Çelik also cautioned against attributing overly noble meanings to journalism.
She further discussed the criteria for being a journalist, emphasizing the importance of journalism as the sole source of income. "If you're engaged in a non-journalistic profession, you could be constantly facing situations that cast a shadow over your journalism," Çelik stated, highlighting the scarcity of individuals who meet these criteria and are actively practicing journalism.
The episode, which also covered the impact of social media on journalism, changes in media ownership, the state of opposition media, and the phenomenon of media bias, is available with autor-translated captions on MLSA TV's YouTube channel.
