04-08-2005, 06:17 PM
http://www.sulekha.com/news/ThreadCommen...cid=565816
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--> Why is an English Paper Being Published in Turkey?  [ Posted by  parsuram  ]
   Treacherous mischief English papers play-full text of the article:
   Why is an English Paper Being Published in Turkey?
   Published: Thursday 07, 2005
   zaman.com
   A news article published last week in New Anatolian was noteworthy. According to the newspaper published by Ilnur Cevik, "extreme nationalists groups" are taking up arms against Kurds. Because the newspaper has only recently began publication, is published only in Ankara, and is not yet well known, the article eluded observation. However, some successful journalists closely following Ankara have raised the gravity of the article in their columns. For example, Sabah Ankara Representative Asli Aydintasbas raised the article for discussion and at least increased awareness. If the newspaper's claim is true, the situation is very serious!
   Since Turkish readers are used to speculative information, they sometimes approach even accurate news with suspicion. That's why even a critical news article can remain unconvincing from time to time... This shouldn't be the case with English newspapers. Think about it; what will those people, the target audience of an English newspaper who give the paper credibility, take away from the news article at issue? It cannot be thought that a journalist like Cevik, who has worked in the field for years, doesn't know what the article about "extreme nationalist movements taking up arms against Kurds" will mean to foreigners.
   Although the circulation of English papers is not that high, it is accepted that they are published for an active circle. Perhaps only for this reason, newspapers published in foreign languages should follow a more responsible line of duty. Because the worldwide use of English makes these newspapers a reference for critical entities.
   An awkward headline
   English is not widely used in Turkey. Yet thousands of English words can be seen in Turkish; the sentence structure of Turkish is invaded by patterns translated from English and English is taught as a "foreign language" at every level of education... Despite all this, English in our country is not a language that is widely spoken. In fact, English newspapers add flavor to the press. The most positive aspect must be that they reflect their concept of journalism which is based on Western standards.
   Those who only view the concept of English newspapers as a commercial opportunity are of the opinion that such investments do not have high returns. Putting aside the low circulation figures, their access to advertisement customers is considerably limited. In order for a newspaper to become a viable commercial venture, its sales or advertisement accounts should make some profit. English publications are disadvantaged by their Turkish rivals on both counts.
   A correlation between the factors causing commercial infertility and the target audience of the English papers should be established. Who reads English newspapers in this country? Among native English speakers, foreigners living in this country are at the top of the list. Embassy staff, foreign company executives and owners, and those who are married to Turkish citizens and live in Turkey must dominate this list.
   The question of who read last week's article on "taking arms," which makes what could be an important claim, needs to be considered in light of the list mentioned above. It is a necessity for the administrators of such newspapers to apply common sense regarding the target audience of the news articles they publish and their commentaries and mission as well.
   When Aydintasbas brought attention to the news article, it produced different reactions among people. In fact, another article published in Turkish Daily News (TDN) last week was also worthy of discussion. Aydintasbas used the expression "targeting diplomatic circles" to describe the New Anatolian. If TDN has the same target audience, then last week's headline of "green money" should have meant something. The headline had no signature. "Special" was written in front of the Ankara dateline and it was noted that it had been written by the "TDN Defense Desk." Even though it has meaning in the foreign press, to see the expression "Defense Desk" used in a newspaper published in Turkey is funny.
   Humor aside, the expression "green money", which is an expression used for conservatives' capital, reminds one of the unpleasant incidents surrounding February 28th. In terms of transparency, the government is taking the most solid steps in the history of the Republic. That's one of the basic requirements in the European Union (EU) process anyway. At this particular stage, putting the term "green money" in a headline provokes thought.
   The news article starts of with the sentence: "United States policy-makers fear some of the funds circulating in the "Islamic market" in Turkey may spill over and be used to finance radical Islamic activity."
   It goes on use the term "one State Department official" to refer to a magazine based in the Middle East. The headline news that raises suspicion about some important companies in Turkey is actually based on archived information and is not really a breaking development. Among other statements, there is a reference to "a London based Turkey expert." According to this expert, who apparently sees very well from long distances(!) the issue of green money "upsets Washington." The noname reporter from the Defense Desk adds the comment, "Bankers point to the growth of the Islamic market." The Turkish reader is not at all unfamiliar with what reports of this nature could mean.
   Let me clearly say that the article published in the TDN is a disaster to the end! The paper's general overview says Nuri Colakoglu is the CEO. I think Mr. Colakoglu is fastidious regarding these issues. The publication principles of the Dogan group newspapers do not give credence to this sort of news anyway. So what happened to allow that the TDN that uses photos of military officials wearing uniforms on inner pages could sign off on such an interesting article as "Defense Desk"?!
   It's a real shame
   An article published in a foreign magazine that reeks of bias should not arouse such excitement. A reference to "banks sponsored by Saudi Arabia" followed by a sentence saying "Erdogan has been silent on this issue, perhaps because he is heavily invested in green money business," should not be jumped upon so unprofessionally. I am sure that neither Aydin Dogan nor Nuri Colakoglu read this article. What could be the meaning in battering our country this much just because the paper's readers are foreigners?
   Don't get me wrong, I am not against English papers. In fact, I am among those who believe that it is useful to have English papers. I don't hold any negative judgments of TDN or the New Anatolian either. However, the papers that are thought to be read by foreigners the most should be very careful when they publish news articles resembling intelligence reports. Besides, it is a journalist's responsibility to be careful about news reports that appear to be snitching on the governing power, NGOs, and political parties in Turkey. The Turkish public does not know what is published in English newspapers, therefore, they don't have the chance to react. The foreigners presumed to be the target audience for these sorts of papers are not likely aware that most of the time, the style of the reports are reminiscent of anti-democratic periods.
   Once in a while, those who take on the tremendous burden of publishing an English paper should ask themselves: Why is an English paper being published in Turkey?
April 4, 2005 <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--> Why is an English Paper Being Published in Turkey?  [ Posted by  parsuram  ]
   Treacherous mischief English papers play-full text of the article:
   Why is an English Paper Being Published in Turkey?
   Published: Thursday 07, 2005
   zaman.com
   A news article published last week in New Anatolian was noteworthy. According to the newspaper published by Ilnur Cevik, "extreme nationalists groups" are taking up arms against Kurds. Because the newspaper has only recently began publication, is published only in Ankara, and is not yet well known, the article eluded observation. However, some successful journalists closely following Ankara have raised the gravity of the article in their columns. For example, Sabah Ankara Representative Asli Aydintasbas raised the article for discussion and at least increased awareness. If the newspaper's claim is true, the situation is very serious!
   Since Turkish readers are used to speculative information, they sometimes approach even accurate news with suspicion. That's why even a critical news article can remain unconvincing from time to time... This shouldn't be the case with English newspapers. Think about it; what will those people, the target audience of an English newspaper who give the paper credibility, take away from the news article at issue? It cannot be thought that a journalist like Cevik, who has worked in the field for years, doesn't know what the article about "extreme nationalist movements taking up arms against Kurds" will mean to foreigners.
   Although the circulation of English papers is not that high, it is accepted that they are published for an active circle. Perhaps only for this reason, newspapers published in foreign languages should follow a more responsible line of duty. Because the worldwide use of English makes these newspapers a reference for critical entities.
   An awkward headline
   English is not widely used in Turkey. Yet thousands of English words can be seen in Turkish; the sentence structure of Turkish is invaded by patterns translated from English and English is taught as a "foreign language" at every level of education... Despite all this, English in our country is not a language that is widely spoken. In fact, English newspapers add flavor to the press. The most positive aspect must be that they reflect their concept of journalism which is based on Western standards.
   Those who only view the concept of English newspapers as a commercial opportunity are of the opinion that such investments do not have high returns. Putting aside the low circulation figures, their access to advertisement customers is considerably limited. In order for a newspaper to become a viable commercial venture, its sales or advertisement accounts should make some profit. English publications are disadvantaged by their Turkish rivals on both counts.
   A correlation between the factors causing commercial infertility and the target audience of the English papers should be established. Who reads English newspapers in this country? Among native English speakers, foreigners living in this country are at the top of the list. Embassy staff, foreign company executives and owners, and those who are married to Turkish citizens and live in Turkey must dominate this list.
   The question of who read last week's article on "taking arms," which makes what could be an important claim, needs to be considered in light of the list mentioned above. It is a necessity for the administrators of such newspapers to apply common sense regarding the target audience of the news articles they publish and their commentaries and mission as well.
   When Aydintasbas brought attention to the news article, it produced different reactions among people. In fact, another article published in Turkish Daily News (TDN) last week was also worthy of discussion. Aydintasbas used the expression "targeting diplomatic circles" to describe the New Anatolian. If TDN has the same target audience, then last week's headline of "green money" should have meant something. The headline had no signature. "Special" was written in front of the Ankara dateline and it was noted that it had been written by the "TDN Defense Desk." Even though it has meaning in the foreign press, to see the expression "Defense Desk" used in a newspaper published in Turkey is funny.
   Humor aside, the expression "green money", which is an expression used for conservatives' capital, reminds one of the unpleasant incidents surrounding February 28th. In terms of transparency, the government is taking the most solid steps in the history of the Republic. That's one of the basic requirements in the European Union (EU) process anyway. At this particular stage, putting the term "green money" in a headline provokes thought.
   The news article starts of with the sentence: "United States policy-makers fear some of the funds circulating in the "Islamic market" in Turkey may spill over and be used to finance radical Islamic activity."
   It goes on use the term "one State Department official" to refer to a magazine based in the Middle East. The headline news that raises suspicion about some important companies in Turkey is actually based on archived information and is not really a breaking development. Among other statements, there is a reference to "a London based Turkey expert." According to this expert, who apparently sees very well from long distances(!) the issue of green money "upsets Washington." The noname reporter from the Defense Desk adds the comment, "Bankers point to the growth of the Islamic market." The Turkish reader is not at all unfamiliar with what reports of this nature could mean.
   Let me clearly say that the article published in the TDN is a disaster to the end! The paper's general overview says Nuri Colakoglu is the CEO. I think Mr. Colakoglu is fastidious regarding these issues. The publication principles of the Dogan group newspapers do not give credence to this sort of news anyway. So what happened to allow that the TDN that uses photos of military officials wearing uniforms on inner pages could sign off on such an interesting article as "Defense Desk"?!
   It's a real shame
   An article published in a foreign magazine that reeks of bias should not arouse such excitement. A reference to "banks sponsored by Saudi Arabia" followed by a sentence saying "Erdogan has been silent on this issue, perhaps because he is heavily invested in green money business," should not be jumped upon so unprofessionally. I am sure that neither Aydin Dogan nor Nuri Colakoglu read this article. What could be the meaning in battering our country this much just because the paper's readers are foreigners?
   Don't get me wrong, I am not against English papers. In fact, I am among those who believe that it is useful to have English papers. I don't hold any negative judgments of TDN or the New Anatolian either. However, the papers that are thought to be read by foreigners the most should be very careful when they publish news articles resembling intelligence reports. Besides, it is a journalist's responsibility to be careful about news reports that appear to be snitching on the governing power, NGOs, and political parties in Turkey. The Turkish public does not know what is published in English newspapers, therefore, they don't have the chance to react. The foreigners presumed to be the target audience for these sorts of papers are not likely aware that most of the time, the style of the reports are reminiscent of anti-democratic periods.
   Once in a while, those who take on the tremendous burden of publishing an English paper should ask themselves: Why is an English paper being published in Turkey?
April 4, 2005 <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->