The Effect of Transformation in Turkey - Syrian Relations on News Discourse

Abstract

One of the most debated issues in journalism studies is the objectivity of the news texts. Even though the journalists argue that they are objective, every single word used in a news text may refer to some other meanings which can create a subjective point of view. How to define or how to name a person, an institution, an organization or a geographical place in a news text, not only presents a point of view, but also strengthens the idea of "objectivity is impossible". Turkish media is also taking position inevitably, by choosing different definitions in news texts. The crisis in international relations, domestic politics or social circumstances may have affect on how to define the people, institutions or geographical places in news texts.

Some of the terminologies appeared in the news texts have been transformed during and after the radical break of the relations of Turkey and Syria in 2011. It is observed that the terminologies of news texts were transformed with the suggestions and calls of the members of the political power. This study investigates the preferred terminologies in the news texts of the state owned media institutions in Turkey, as well as the main stream media institutions and the ideologically positioned media institutions. The study focuses on the transformation of the terminologies from Esad to Esed, from ISID to DAES and from Kobani to Ayn el Arab.