A Tribute to Art Or Ideology: The News Coverage of Ataturk Statues in Turkish Press After the Coup of 12 September 1980

Abstract

It is observed that there is a radical increase in the publication of news about the busts and statues of Ataturk, after the 12 September 1980 military coup in Turkish press. Having no expected news value under normal conditions, even opening ceremonies for busts of Ataturk in village schools are published in main pages of national newspapers during the coup administration. This study is focused on the news stories covering the busts and statues of Ataturk, which were published in Cumhuriyet, Milliyet and Tercuman newspapers, from 12 September 1980 (the date of the military coup), to the end of 1981 (where many events were held to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Ataturk's birthday-also also truckloads of Ataturk monuments were distributed across the country in 1981. This study aims to investigate the relationship between news of Ataturk busts and politic atmosphere of 12 September 1980 coup. The study argues that the frequency and the news narratives of print media related to Ataturk busts, reproduces the ideologies of the coup administration