Türkiye Örnekleminde Veri Gazeteciliği Uygulamaları ve Demokrasi İlişkisi Üzerine Bir Değerlendirm

Year 2020, Issue: 58, 65 - 103, 30.07.2020

Özlem Erkmen

https://doi.org/10.26650/CONNECTIST2020-0007

Abstract

Dijitalleşmeyle birlikte ortaya çıkan, mevcut yazılımlar veya insan kaynağıyla makul sürelerde işlenemeyen büyük veri yığınları, insanların dünya meselelerine yaklaşımını dönüştürerek demokrasiyi geliştirme potansiyelini barındırmaktadır. Ancak bunun için, veriyi anlamlandıracak, içinde saklanan hikâyeleri kamu yararına ortaya çıkaracak “dijital bekçi köpekleri” (Felle, 2015; 2016) olarak veri gazetecilerine ihtiyaç vardır. Büyük verinin gazetecilik bağlamında tartışılması 2010’daki Wikileaks sızıntısıyla başlamıştır. Veriyi temizleme, düzenleme, görselleştirme, işleme ve ilişkilendirme aşamalarını kapsayan yeni bir pratik olarak veri gazeteciliği öne çıkmıştır. Özellikle gayrı resmi/gizli verilerden hareketle ‘gölgelerde saklı olanı’ arayan, veriyi sorgulayıp içindeki ilişkileri bulmayı içeren araştırmacı veri gazeteciliği, demokrasinin önemli bir aracı olarak vurgulanmaktadır. Araştırma, veri gazeteciliğinin bu işlevini Türkiye örneklemindeki uygulama bağlamında tartışmaktadır. Betimsel araştırma yöntemi ile yapılan çalışmada derinlemesine görüşme ve içerik analizi teknikleri kullanılmıştır. Bu doğrultuda, veri projesi üretimine dâhil olmuş gazetecilerle derinlemesine görüşmeler yapılmış, ayrıca Global Editors Network tarafından düzenlenen veri gazeteciliği ödüllerine Türkiye’den başvuran projelerin içerik ve teknik özellikleri incelenmiştir. Araştırma bulguları, veri gazeteciliğinin çoğunlukla küçük ölçekli ve alternatif haber merkezleri tarafından, daha çok hak odaklı perspektifle yapılan bir pratik olduğunu göstermektedir. Ancak yayınlanabilir konulara yönelme baskısı ve zamansızlık, yapılanı ‘hesap soran’ bir gazetecilik olmaktan uzaklaştırmaktadır. Türkiye örnekleminde veri gazeteciliğinin demokratikleştirici potansiyelini gerçekleştirmesinin önündeki diğer engeller olarak, medyanın henüz veri gazeteciliğine yatırım yapmaması, güvenilir veriye erişilememesi, mesleki işbirliğinin kısıtlılığı, yurttaş katılımlı alternatif fonlama ve haber üretme mekanizmalarının gerçekleştirilememesi sayılabilir.

Keywords

Veri gazeteciliği, şeffaflık, demokratikleşme, hesap sorulabilirlik, açık toplum

Supporting Institution

Yazar bu çalışma için finansal destek almadığını beyan etmiştir.

Reviewing the Relationship Between Democracy and Data Journalism Practices in Turkey

Abstract

Large data stacks that emerged with digitalisation, which could not be processed in a reasonable time with existing software or human resources, have the potential to develop democracy by transforming people’s approach to world affairs. However, there is a need for data journalists as “digital watchdogs” (Felle, 2015; 2016) that will make sense of the data and reveal the stories hidden in it for public good. The discussion of big data in the context of journalism started with the Wikileaks in 2010. Data journalism has come to the fore as a new practice covering the stages of cleaning, editing, visualising, processing and contextualising data. Investigative data journalism, which seeks to “find what is hidden in the shadows” based on informal/confidential data, and to find the relationships in it, is emphasised as an important tool of democracy. The study discusses this function of data journalism in Turkish context. In-depth interviews with data journalists have been made, along with the examination of content and technical characteristics of the projects applied from Turkey to the Global Editors Network’s Data Journalism Awards. The findings show that data journalism is mostly practised by small-scale and alternative newsrooms, with a human rights-based perspective. However, time shortage and the pressure of preparing publishable stories, prevent journalists from practising accountability journalism. Other obstacles to data journalism to fulfil its democratising potential are; media institutions do not invest in data journalism, accessing reliable data is difficult, professional collaboration is limited, and crowdsourcing for funding and/or news making is not applicable..

Keywords

Data journalism, transparency, democratisation, accountability, open society

References

• 2 journalists were murdered - But their investigations live on. (2019, April 7). DW Freedom. Retrieved from https://www.dw.com/en/2-journalists-were-murdered-but-their-investigations-live-on/a-48241808
• A world that counts mobilising the data revolution for sustainable development. (2014). United Nations. Retrieved from https://www.undatarevolution.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/A-World-That-Counts2.pdf
• Akdeniz, Y., & Güven, O. (2019). Engelli web 2018 raporu. Retrieved from https://privacy.cyber-rights.org.tr/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/EngelliWeb_2018.pdf
• Aktan, S. (2018, December 3). TÜİK ve güven tartışmaları: Enflasyondaki olumlu trend gerçek mi yapay mı? Euronews. Retrieved from https://tr.euronews.com/2018/12/03/tuik-ve-guven-tartismalar-enflasyondaki-olumlu-trend-gercek-mi-yapay-mi
• Arthur, C. (2010, November 22). Analysing data is the future for journalists, says Tim Berners-Lee. The Guardian Online. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/nov/22/data-analysis-tim-berners-lee
• Ataman, B., & Çoban, B. (2019). How to deal with threats to journalism? In E. Eide, K. S. Orgeret, & N. Mutluer (Eds.), Transnational Othering Global Diversities: Media, Extremism and Free Expression (pp. 171-190). Gothenburg, Sweden: Nordicom.
• Baack, S. (2011). A new style of news reporting: Wikileaks and data-driven journalism. Cyborg Subjects. Retrieved from https://www.ssoar.info/ssoar/handle/document/40025
• Baack, S. (2015). Datafication and empowerment: How the open data movement re-articulates notions of democracy, participation, and journalism. Big Data & Society, July-December 2015, 1-11. https://doi. org/10.1177/2053951715594634
• Berger, A. A. (1998). Media Research Techniques. London, UK: Sage Publications.
• Borges-Rey, E. (2016). Unravelling data journalism. A study of data journalism practice in British newsrooms. Journalism Practice, 10(7), 833-843. https://doi.org/10.1080/17512786.2016.1159921
• Boyles, J. L., & Meyer, E. (2016). Letting the data speak. Digital Journalism, 4(7), 944-954. https://doi.org/10.1080/ 21670811.2016.1166063 Carlsson, U., & Pöythari, R. (2017). Words of introduction. In U. Carlsson, & R. Pöhtyari (Eds.), The Assault on Journalism (pp. 11-17). Gothenburg, Sweden: Nordicom.
• Dağ, P., & Demirel, S. (2016, November 25). İmam hatip liselerinin son 10 yılı. Bağımsız Gazetecilik Platformu. Retrieved from http://platform24.org/haber-arastirma/1883/imam-hatip-liselerinin-son-10-yili
• Doğu, B. (2015). Veri haberciliği: Demokratik medya için olanaklar. Folklor/Edebiyat, 21(83), 181-197.
• Dusséaux, A. (2016, July 27). Open data as a human right: The case of case-law [Web log post]. Retrieved from https://blog.okfn.org/2016/07/27/open-data-as-a-human- right-the-case-of-case-law/
• Erkmen, Ö. (2018). Büyük veri ve gazetecilik: Veri gazeteciliği demokrasi, katılım ve gazeteciliğe dair anlayışımızı nasıl dönüştürebilir? Akdeniz Üniversitesi İletişim Fakültesi Dergisi, 30, 322-344. https://doi.org/10.31123/akil.464511
• Esser, F., & Neuberger, C. (2019). Realizing the democratic functions of journalism in the digital age: New alliances and a return to old values. Journalism, 20(1) 194-197. https://doi.org/10.1177/1464884918807067
• Felle, T. (2015). Accountability meets engagement: data journalism’s watchdog role? In T. Felle, J. Mair, & D. Radcliffe (Eds.), Data Journalism: Inside the Global Future (pp. 167-176). Suffolk, UK: Abramis Academic.
• Felle, T. (2016). Digital watchdogs? Data reporting and the traditional ‘fourth estate’ role for journalists. Journalism Theory, Practice and Criticism, 17(1), 85-96. https://doi.org/10.1177/1464884915593246
• Freedom on the Net 2019. (2019). Freedom House. Retrieved from https://www.freedomonthenet.org/country/ turkey/freedom-on-the-net/2019
• From open data to a right to data: A response to the UN data revolution report web foundation (2014, December 9). Web Foundation. Retrieved from https://webfoundation.org/2014/12/from-open-data-to-a-right-to-data-a-response-to-the-un-data-revolution-report/
• Global Editors Network. (n.d.). Global Editors Network - Community. Retrieved from http://community. globaleditorsnetwork.org/projects
• Gray, J., Bounegru, L., & Chambers, L. (2012). The Data Journalism Handbook. Cambridge, UK: O’Reilly.
• Hewett, J. (2013). Learning in progress. From computer-assisted reporting to data journalism, via freedom of information, open data and more. In J. Mair, R. L. Keeble, P. Bradshaw, & T. Beleaga (Eds.), Data Journalism: Mapping the Future (pp. 3-14). Suffolk, UK: Abramis Academic.
• Howard, A. B. (2014). The Art and Science of Data Driven Journalism. Columbia, USA: Columbia University Academic Commons.
• Karlsen, J., & Stavelin, E. (2014). Computational journalism in Norwegian newsrooms. Journalism Practice, 8(1), 34-48. https://doi.org/10.1080/17512786.2013.813190
• Knight, M. (2015). Data journalism in the UK: a preliminary analysis of form and content. Journal of Media Practice, 16(1), 55-72. https://doi.org/10.1080/14682753.2015.1015801
• Kubzansky, C. (2018, August 8). Nine essential tools from ICIJ’s data journalism and programming experts. [Web log post]. Retrieved from https://www.icij.org/blog/2018/08/nine-essential-tools-from-icijs-data-journalism-and-programming-experts/
• Lewis, S. C. (2015). Journalism in an era of big data. Digital Journalism, 3(3), 321-330. https://doi.org/10.1080/216 70811.2014.976399
• Loosen, W., Reimer, J., & Schmidt, F. (2015, September). When Data Become News. A content analysis of data journalism pieces. Paper presented at The Future of Journalism: Risks, Threats and Opportunities Conference, Cardiff University, UK. Retrieved from https://www.academia.edu/16029530/When_data_become_ news._A_content_analysis_of_data_journalism_pieces
• Lorenz, M., Kayser, N., & McGhee, G. (2011). Media companies must become trusted data hubs. EJC Magazine. Retrieved from https://ejc.net/magazine/article/media-companies-must-becometrusted-data-hubs
• Lune, H., & Berg, H. L. (2017). Qualitative Research Methods for the Social Sciences. Essex, UK: Pearson.
• Mair, J., & Keeble, R. L. (2013). Data Journalism: Mapping the Future. Suffolk, UK: Abramis Academic.
• Manuli, G. (2013, April 5). IndieGoGo founder on raising money for journalism projects: ‘People fund people, not just ideas’. International Journalists Network. [Web log post]. Retrieved from https://ijnet.org/en/story/ indiegogo-founder-raising-money-journalism-projects-people-fund-people-not-just-ideas
• Media Ownership Monitor. (2019). Medya Sahipleri. Media Ownership Monitor Türkiye. Retrieved from https:// turkey.mom-rsf.org/
• Muneri, C. T. (2019). Prospects for data journalism in Zimbabwe: Challenges of engendering a democratic society and an informed citizenry in the digital age. In B.
• Mutsvairo, S, Bebawi, & E. Borges-Rey (Eds.), Data Journalism in the Global South (pp. 39-52). Cham, Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan.
• Mutsvairo, B. (2019). A new dawn for the “developing” world? Probing data journalism in non-western societies. In B. Mutsvairo, S, Bebawi, & E. Borges-Rey (Eds.), Data Journalism in the Global South (pp. 1-20). Cham, Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan.
• Mutsvairo, B., Bebawi, S., & Borges-Rey, E. (2019). Data Journalism in the Global South. Cham, Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan.
• Narin, B., Ayaz, B., Fırat, F., & Fırat, D. (2017). Büyük veri ve gazetecilik ilişkisi bağlamında veri gazeteciliği. AJIT-e: Online Academic Journal of Information Technology, 8(30), 215-235. Open Data Barometer (2017). The Open Data Barometer. Retrieved from https://opendatabarometer.org/?_ year=2017&indicator=ODB
• Open Knowledge Foundation. (n.d.). What is open? Retrieved from https://okfn.org/opendata/
• Open Knowledge International. (2016). Global Open Data Index. Retrieved from https://index.okfn.org/place/tr/
• Özkan, Ö. (2019). Açık Veri. İstanbul, Turkey: Türkiye Bilişim Vakfı.
• Öztürk, F. (2019, December 3). PISA testi 2018 sonuçları açıklandı: Türkiye yine tüm alanlarda OECD ortalamasının altında. BBC Türkçe. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/turkce/haberler-turkiye-50639723
• Palomo, B., Teruel, L., & Blanco-Castilla, E. (2019). Data journalism projects based on user-generated content: How La Nacion data transforms active audience into staff. Digital Journalism, 7(9), 1270-288. https://doi.org/ 10.1080/21670811.2019.1626257
• Panama Belgeleri haberlerine erişim engeli: Diken’in Mehmet Cengiz haberine sansür. (2016, July 1). Diken. Retrieved from http://www.diken.com.tr/dikenin-de-aralarinda-bulundugu-bes-sitedeki-panama-belgeleri-haberlerine-erisim-engeli/
• Paraise, S., & Dagiral, E. (2012). Data-driven journalism and the public good: ‘Computer-assisted reporters’ and ‘programmer-journalists’ in Chicago. New Media & Society, 15(6), 853-871. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444812463345
• Porlezza, C., & Splendore, S. (2019). From open journalism to closed data: Data journalism in Italy. Digital Journalism, 7(9), 1230-1252. https://doi.org/10.1080/21670811.2019.1657778
• Rodriguez, L. (2015). Data journalism in Uruguay. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/ publication/291692546_Data_Journalism_in_Uruguay
• Rogers, S. (2009, June 18). How to crowdsource MPs’ expenses. The Guardian Datablog. Retrieved from https:// www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2009/jun/18/mps-expenses-houseofcommons
• Rogers, S. (2013). Facts Are Sacred: The Power of Data. London, UK: Faber & Faber.
• Rogers, S., Schwabish, J., & Bowers, D. (2017). Data journalism in 2017. Retrieved from https://newslab. withgoogle.com/assets/docs/data-journalism-in-2017.pdf
• Sirkkunen, E. (2011). Trends in Data Journalism. The Next Media Programme of TIVIT Report. Retrieved from // virtual.vtt.fi/virtual/nextmedia/Deliverables-2011/D3.2.1.2.B_Hyperlocal_ Trends_In%20Data_Journalism.pdf
• Stalph, F., & Borges-Rey, E. (2018). Data journalism sustainability. Digital Journalism, 6(8), 1078-1089. https://doi.org/10.1080/21670811.2018.1503060
• Strauss, A., & Corbin, J. (2014). Basics Of Qualitative Research Techniques. New York, USA: Sage Publications.
• Tabari, C., Provost, A., & Trottier, A. (2016). Data journalism’s actors, practices and skills: A case study from Quebec. Journalism, 17(1), 66-84. https://doi.org/10.1177/1464884915593245
• Tandoc, E. C., & Oh, S. (2017). Small departures, big continuities? Journalism Studies, 18(8), 997-1015. https://doi. org/10.1080/1461670X.2015.1104260
• Vanderstoep, S. W., & Johnston, D. D. (2009). Research Methods for Everyday Life Blending Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches. San Francisco, USA: Jossey-Bass.
• Wright, K., Zamith, R., & Bebawi, S. (2019). Data journalism beyond majority world countries: Challenges and opportunities. Digital Journalism, 7(9), 1295-1302. doi: 10.1080/21670811.2019.1702472
• Young, M. L., Hermida, Al. & Fulda, J. (2018). What Makes for Great Data Journalism?, Journalism Practice, 12(1), 115-135. https://doi.org/10.1080/17512786.2016.1270171
• Zamith, R. (2019). Transparency, interactivity, diversity, and information provenance in everyday data journalism. Digital Journalism, 7(4), 470-489. https://doi.org/10.1080/21670811.2018.1554409