"Journalism and national interests...
Yusuf Kanlı: Journalism and national interests
Sometimes a discussion starts in Turkish society and naturally among journalists who are a part of that society: What are the limits of reporting? Are people working in the information sector, that is in the media, first journalists or Turks? If somehow a journalist gets hold of an “explosive” piece of news regarding national security or a matter related to a very important national interest, should s/he sit on that news and keep it to themselves, or should s/he act on an “I am a journalist first” understanding and run it, not bothering at all what repercussions it might produce? For example, I knew at least two days in advance of the 1983 proclamation of independence of the Turkish RepublicSelf-respecting colleagues of mine
I don't know what the situation is in other countries, but in Turkey "investigative reporters" can't exist because the information trapped within the state's own monopoly is not accessible.TURKISH GENERAL PILLORIED BY THE FUNDAMENTALIST PRESS - Eurasia Daily Monitor
By John C. K. DalyWednesday, June 18, 2008
Since the founding of the Republic of Turkey 85 years ago, the Turkish Armed Forces (Turk Silahli Kuvvetleri--TSK) has seen itself as the guardian of the nation’s secular Kemalist traditions. The unresolved tension between the country’s Islamic heritage and its secular traditions is rising due to issues such as the government’s ban on headscarves at the university and its move to ban the ruling AKP party; and the mounting tension has now ensnared General Ilker Basbug, current commander of the Turkish Army, who is slated to succeed General Mehmet Buyukanit in August as chief of the general staff."
From the Sublime to the ridiculous
I am sure one or two of you will have missed last week's Sublime Porte Festivities, an annual attempt at jollity organized by the Turkish Journalists Association (TGC).US: Associated Press vs. Drudge Retort "matter closed"
The Associated Press (AP) has announced that the incident regarding the Drudge Retort (DR) receiving take-down notices is "matter closed", European Journalism Centre reports.The AP recently filed Digital Millenium Copyright Act takedown requests asking DR to take down blog posts that they were violating copyright laws by using quotes ithat were too long.
Top Print and Web Designs
The World Editors Forum has asked five prominent newspaper designers to pick their Top 10 newspaper designs and Top 5 newspaper website designs to illustrate the evolution of newspaper design and how it is beginning to relate more to the Web.Here are the newspapers most often cited by the designers: The Guardian (United Kingdom), Poklitiken (Denmark), Bergens Tidende (Norway), St Petersburg Times (United States), Eleftheros Typos (Greece), De Morgen (Belgium), elEconomista (Spain), Excelsior (Mexico), Expreso (Portugal) and Äripäev (Estonia).
The newspaper websites most often cited were elpais.com (Spain), guardian.co.uk (United Kingdom), globeandmail.com (Canada), 24sata.hr (Croatia), and Times Online (United Kingdom).
@Future of Journalism: Reporting celebrity news
There is ongoing debate about the credibility of celebrity news and their utility, especially as some major news organizations recently upped their celebrity coverage (think of Associated Press and Britney Spears). At the Future of Journalism conference organized by the Guardian was brought forth the idea that "celebrity is a cultural currency that fulfils a role."Is blasphemy press freedom or crossing the line?
Following the International Press Institute (IPI) world congress in Belgrade, where a session focused on the limits of tolerance and the issue of publishing blasphemous content, such as the Mohammed cartoons in Denmark, IPI will make a programme-length video about the issue of blasphemy.This is a good initiative in the wake of the publication of satirical cartoons of Mohammed by 17 Danish newspapers, three years after the initial row.
@Future of Journalism: the benefits of Twitter
At the Guardian 's "Future of Journalism" conference, Twitter was mentioned as an innovative and revolutionary service that has helped journalists worldwide cover events more immediately, such as the earthquake in China, mayoral elections or soccer games. In his blog, Ron Sylvester says the podcast is "fascinating" and "thought-provoking."UK: BBC's integrates newsroom with new media on-demand production unit
The BBC's mammoth reorganization has been the subject of recent press scrutiny. Steve Herrmann, editor of BBC News' website, offered readers a peek into the mechanics of integrating one of the world's biggest media organizations."For us one [challenge] has been the practical difficulty of moving 100 or so journalists and all their equipment from one working newsroom to another whilst simultaneously maintaining a continuous 24-hour online news service," Herrmann writes on the editors' blog.
BBC News’ journalists converge
BBC’s online journalists have moved into the newly configured BBC Multimedia Newsroom, next to their TV and radio counterparts, and the newsgathering teams who deploy the BBC’s news reporters, BBC News website editor Steve Hermann says. …Digging Deeper::Charles Lewis Tries to Solve -- Not Bemoan -- State of Investigative Journalism
The state of investigative journalism in America is in its five-alarm fire phase, with newspaper staffs being severely pared down, and TV news going for flash and celebrity. But Charles Lewis, the godfather of non-profit investigative journalism as founder and former director of the Center for Public Integrity, would rather put out the fire than simply yell “fire!”
Press Roundup
Referee Roberto Rosetti from Italy (L) comforts Croatia's Mladen Petric after the penalty shootout of the quarterfinal match between Croatia and Turkey in Vienna on Friday night, which ended with Turkey's stunning victory.Turkish Press Scanner
Russian caviar mafia deals through Turkey – Hürriyet The Russian mafia found in Turkey the means to exceed the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, or CITES, limit that determines the amount of black caviar that can be exported, daily Hürriyet reported yesterday. About 33 percent of Russia's caviar exports go to the United States, 38 percent to western Europe and the rest to the Middle East. According to CITES criteria, tourists that visit Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Russia can legally take with themselves 250 grams of caviar when they leave these countries. This helps the Russian mafia to devise new methods. In his book
Press Roundup
US Democratic presumptive presidential nominee Barack Obama poses for a photograph with college students, including one in a Muslim headscarf, at Wayne County Community College in Taylor, Michigan. An Obama campaign volunteer earlier prohibited two headscarf-wearing women from appearing behind him in photographs.
Press Roundup
Mourners march in a funeral procession for 11 members of the same family who were victims of a suicide truck bombing in the Shiite holy city of Najaf on Wednesday.Press Roundup
Following his ruling Justice and Development Party's (AK Party) group meeting on Tuesday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met with a group of disabled students from the western province of Denizli in Parliament on Tuesday.Turkish Press Scanner
University bosses to be elected – Akşam As the date to elect rectors of 21 universities draws near, candidates are making interesting promises, daily Akşam reported yesterday. The rector elections will be held June 18-19. Candidates have sent e-mails and brochures that explain their proposals to academics who will be voting in the elections. The Higher Education Board, or YÖK, will be notified of the names of the six candidates that receive the most votes. The YÖK General Assembly will then send three names to President Abdullah Gül, who will appoint the rectors. The Justice and Development Party's, or AKP, former Trabzon deputy, Professor Aydın Dumanoğlu, and AKP deputy,Turkish Press Scanner
Carrier pigeons lose their way – Zaman Carrier pigeons have begun losing their bearings and even missing their destinations due to frequencies emitted by mobile phones, reported Zaman daily yesterday. The frequency mobile phones emit causes some carrier pigeons to lose their way, said İzmir Postal Pigeons Association Chairman Lütfi Kaşatan. He said that postal pigeons, which have long been able to find their homes without any mistakes, have been experiencing disorientation more frequently in the past couple of years. “Many pigeons might go to cities in opposite directions, such as Ağrı, Kars, Amasya, Trabzon or Tekirdağ, while they should have been returning to İzmir.”Press Roundup
Sports Minister Murat Başesgioğlu presents national team captain Nihat Kahveci's uniform to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Kahveci produced a memorable and incredible comeback for Turkey in Sunday's match against Czech Republic by scoring two goals just minutes before the match was over.