“Whose Voice Resonates?” A Study on the News Content of Four Alternative Digital-native News Websites in Turkey

Year 2023, , 533 - 549, 29.09.2023

Can Ertuna

https://doi.org/10.26466/opusjsr.1347398

Abstract

This study examines the news content of Turkish digital-native news websites, namely Diken, Gazete Duvar, Kısa Dalga, and T24. Employing both quantitative and qualitative content analysis approaches, the study initially investigates the utilization of sources and framing techniques within the news articles presented on these platforms. The findings underscore the imperative of embracing reporter-driven journalism to amplify the voices of disadvantaged individuals and groups and foster an alternative news agenda. Furthermore, while these websites prominently exhibit a critical framing towards the government and official entities, a distinguishing feature is adopting a balanced language, rather than one showing positive bias, when reporting on the opposition and associated individuals and institutions.

Keywords

Alternative media, mainstream media, journalism, digital-native, content analysis

References

• Adaklı, G. (2014). Medya sermayesi ve ultra-çapraz bütünleşmeler [Media capital and ultra-cross media ownership]. Perspectives: Siyasi Analiz ve Yorum, Heinrich Böll Stiftung (8), 18- 23.
• Akın, D. (2020, July 16). Varakpârelere kötü bir haberim var; T24 bu gezegende kimseden para almadı, kişisel mal varlığımı da artık şuraya koyayım [I have a bad new to piece of papers; T24 did not receive money from anyone in this planet, let me document my personal assets here]. T24. Retrieved July 12, 2023 from: https://t24.com.tr/yazarlar/dogan-akin/varakparelere-kotu-bir-haberim-var-t-24-bu-gezegende-kimseden-para-almadi-kisisel-mal-varligimi-da-artik-suraya-koyayim,27388
• Alankuş, S. (2008). Demokrasi ve başka-medya ilişkisi: Türkiye’deki yaygın dışı medya ortamını anlamak üzere teorik bir çerçeve [The relationship between democracy and “other media”: An attempt to describe the non–mainstream media environment in Turkey], in E. Çelenk (Ed.), Başka bir iletişim mümkün [Another communication is possible] (pp. 121-136). IPS İletişim Vakfı.
• Atton, C. (2003). What is alternative journalism? Journalism, 4(3): 267–272.
• Atton, C., & Wickenden, E. (2005). Sourcing routines and representation in alternative journalism: A case study approach. Journalism studies, 6(3), 347-359. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616700500132008
• Atton, C. (2006). Alternative media. Sage Publications.
• Aydoğan, A., Başaran, F. (2012). Yeni medyayı alternatif medya bağlamında anlamak [Understanding new media in the context of alternative media], in Ö. Özer (Ed.) Alternatif medya, alternatif gazetecilik: Türkiye’de alternatif gazetecilik üzerine değerlendirmeler [Alternative media, alternative journalism: Evaluations on alternative journalism in Turkey] (pp. 213-246). Literatürk.
• Bailey, O.G., Cammaerts, B., Carpentier, N. (2015). Alternatif medyayı anlamak [Understanding alternative media] (Ç. Öztürk, Trans.), Epsilon Yayıncılık. (Original work published: 2007).
• Başakçıoğlu, C. (2023, August 16). Belediyeden kiralık “beton kent meydanı”: Referandum bugün ["Concrete town square" for rent from the municipality: Referendum today]. Gazete Duvar. https://www.gazeteduvar.com.tr/belediyeden-kiralik-beton-kent-meydani-referandum-bugun-haber-1633021
• Berelson, B. R. (1952). Content analysis in communication research. Free Press.
• Berkowitz, D. (1987). TV news sources and news channels: A study in agenda building. Journalism Quarterly, 64, 508-513.
• Bourdieu, P. (1998). On Television, The New Press.
• Cesur, K. (2023, August 14). Van’ın “Tınne Köyü”: Yoksunuz diyorlar var olmamızı bekliyorlar [The “Tınne Village” of Van: They say you don’t exist but expect us to exist]. Gazete Duvar. https://www.gazeteduvar.com.tr/vanin-tinne-koyu-yoksunuz-diyorlar-var-olmamizi-bekliyorlar-haber-1632295
• Chrest Foundation. (n.d.). Grants awarded. Retrieved July 10, 2023 from https://chrestfoundation.org/grants-awarded/
• Cobb, R. W., & Elder, C. D. (1971). The politics of agenda-building: An alternative perspective for modern democratic theory. The journal of politics, 33(4), 892-915.
• Çevikel, T. (2020) Dijital Çağda Gazeteciliğin Krizi ve Finansmanı [Crisis and Financing of Journalism in the Digital Age]. um:ag Vakfı Yayınları.
• Çevikel, T. (2023). Türkiye’de Dijital Doğumlu Haber Siteleri: Sınırlılıklar ve Olanaklar, [Digital Born News Websites in Turkey: Limitations and Possibilities], in V.M. Ayan, E.T. Keten (Eds.) Anaakım Çökerken Alternatif Medyanın Eleştirisi [Criticism of Alternative Media as the Mainstream Collapses] (pp. 91-110). um:ag Vakfı Yayınları.
• Çoban, B., Ataman, B. (2015). Giriş: Türkiye’de Alternatif Medya [Introduction: Alternative media in Turkey], in B. Çoban, B.Ataman (Eds.) Direniş Çağında Türkiye’de Alternatif Medya [Alternative media in Turkey in the age of resistance] (pp. 9-52). Epsilon Yayıncılık.
• Deleuze, G., Guattari, F. (1987). A Thousand Plateaus: Capitalism and Schizophrenia. University of Minnesota Press.
• Downing, J., Ford, T.V.F, Gil, G. Stein, L. (2001). Radical Media: Rebellious Communication and Social Movements. Sage.
• Duverger, M. (2015). Introduction to the social sciences (RLE Social Theory). Routledge.
• Entman, R. M. (1993). Framing: Toward clarification of a fractured paradigm. Journal of Communication, 43(4), 51-58. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1460-2466.1993.tb01304.x
• Fenton, N. (2016). Alternative media and the question of power. Journal of Alternative & Community Media, 1(1), 10-11.
• Fuchs, C. (2009). Information and communication technologies and society: A contribution to the critique of the political economy of the Internet. European journal of communication, 24(1), 69-87.
• Fuchs, C. (2010). Alternative media as critical media. European journal of social theory, 13(2), 173-192. https://doi.org/10.1177/0267323108098947
• Geray, H. (2006). Toplumsal Araştırmalarda Nicel ve Nitel Yöntemlere Giriş [Introduction to Quantitative and Qualitative Methods in Social Studies]. Siyasal Kitabevi.
• Görgülü, E. (2023, August 16). İmamoğlu’nun “partiler ötesi ittifak” çağrısı muhalefeti nasıl şekillendirecek? [How will İmamoğlu's call for a "cross-party alliance" shape the opposition?]. T24. https://t24.com.tr/haber/imamoglu-nun-partiler-otesi-ittifak-cagrisi-muhalefeti-nasil-sekillendirecek,1125250
• Günaydın, B. Ö. (2023, August 17). Depremzedeler evini kendi yapıyor: “Bir kışı daha çadırda geçiremem” [Earthquake victims build their own houses: “I can't spend another winter in a tent”]. Gazete Duvar. https://www.gazeteduvar.com.tr/depremzedeler-evini-kendi-yapiyor-bir-kisi-daha-cadirda-geciremem-haber-1633047
• Gürcan, H. İ. (2005). İnternet haberciliğinde etik değerler [Ethical values in internet journalism]. İstanbul Üniversitesi İletişim Fakültesi Dergisi, (22), 39-46.
• Harcup, T. (2003). “The Unspoken—Said”: The Journalism of Alternative Media. Journalism: Theory, Practice and Criticism 4(3): 356–376. https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190228613.013.780
• Harman, G. (2023). Project Oasis Country Summary: Turkey. https://projectoasiseurope.com/country-summary/turkey/
• Herring, S. C. (2004). Content analysis for new media: Rethinking the paradigm. New research for new media: Innovative research methodologies symposium working papers and readings 2(12): 47-66.
• Howley, K. (2005). Community media: People, places, and communication technologies. Cambridge University Press.
• Karaca, E. (2016, August 8). Vedat Zencir “Gazete Duvar”ı anlatıyor [Vedat Zencir tells about “Gazete Duvar”]. Gazete Duvar. https://m.bianet.org/bianet/medya/177632-vedat-zencir-gazete-duvar-i-anlatiyor
• Keten, E.T. (2023). “Krizi Fırsata Çevirmek”: Türkiye’de Girişimci Gazetecilik ["Turning Crisis into Opportunity": Entrepreneurial Journalism in Turkey], in V.M. Ayan, E.T. Keten (Eds.) Anaakım Çökerken Alternatif Medyanın Eleştirisi [Criticism of Alternative Media as the Mainstream Collapses] (pp. 61-90). um:ag Vakfı Yayınları.
• Kızılkaya, E., Ütücü, B. (2021). “The New Mainstream Media” is Rising (And It Seeks Support). International Press Institute.
• Korkmaz, G. (2022, August 12). Kemal Göktaş: “Kısa Dalga’nın mottosu iyi gazetecilik” [Kemal Göktaş: “The motto of Kısa Dalga is good journalism”]. Retrieved July 12, 2023 from Newslab Turkey. https://www.newslabturkey.org/2022/08/12/kemal-goktas-kisa-dalganin-mottosu-iyi-gazetecilik/
• McMillan, S. J. (2000). The microscope and the moving target: The challenge of applying content analysis to the World Wide Web. Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly, 77 (1): 80-98. https://doi.org/10.1177/107769900007700107
• Mosco, V. (2019). Social media versus journalism and democracy. Journalism, 20(1) 181-184. https://doi.org/10.1177/1464884918807611
• Narin, B. (2017). Gazetecilik 2.0 internet gazeteciliğinde hipermetinsellik [Journalism 2.0 hypertextuality in internet journalism]. Gece Kitaplığı.
• Newman, N., Fletcher, R., Eddy, K., Robertson, C. T., & Nielsen, R. K. (2023). Digital News Report 2023. https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2023-06/Digital_News_Report_2023.pdf
• Oxford Languages (n.d.). Oxford Languages. Retrieved July 10, 2023 from https://languages.oup.com/google-dictionary-en/
• Rauch, J. (2016). Are there still alternatives? Relationships between alternative media and mainstream media in a converged environment. Sociology Compass, 10(9), 756-767. https://doi.org/10.1111/soc4.12403
• Riffe, D., Lacy, S., Fico, F., & Watson, B. (2019). Analyzing media messages: Using quantitative content analysis in research. Routledge.
• Rodriguez, C. (2001). Fissures in the Mediascape: An International Study of Citizens' Media. Hampton Press.
• RSF. (2023, August). Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index. Retrieved July 10, 2023 from https://rsf.org/en/country-türkiye
• Sancar, A. (2023, August 17). İmamoğlu’nun yol haritası netleşiyor: Adaylık sonrası talepleri olabilir [İmamoğlu's road map is getting clearer: He may have demands after candidacy]. Diken. https://www.diken.com.tr/imamoglunun-yol-haritasi-netlesiyor-adaylik-sonrasi-talepleri-olabilir/ Sandoval, M. & Fuchs, C. (2010). Towards a critical theory of alternative media. Telematics and Informatics, 27, 141-150. doi: 10.1016/j.tele.2009.06.011
• Simavi, H. (2014, February 13). Bu gazete [This newspaper]. Diken. Retrieved August 14, 2023 from http://web.archive.org/web/20140213051029/https://www.diken.com.tr/bu-gazete/ Similarweb (2023, August 13). Website performance. https://pro.similarweb.com/#/digitalsuite/websiteanalysis/overview/website-performance/*/999/3m?webSource=Total&key=gazeteduvar.com.tr,t24.com.tr,diken.com.tr,kisadalga.net
• Smythe, Dallas W. (2006). On the Audience Commodity and its Work, in M.G. Durham and D.M. Kellner. (Eds.) Media and Cultural Studies Key Works (pp. 230 - 256). Blackwell.
• Sözeri, C. (2016). Rethinking activist journalism when freedom of press is under threat. Athens Journal of Mass Media and Communications, 2(2), 83-94. https://doi.org/10.30958/ajmmc.2.2.1
• T24 (2021, September 2). Doğan Akın: T24 fon almadı; ama fon kullananları linç etmeye çalışanlar kamu kaynaklarıyla fonlanan yayınlara baksınlar! [Doğan Akın: T24 did not receive funding, but those who try to lynch those who did should look at publications funded by public funds!]. T24. https://t24.com.tr/video/dogan-akin-t-24-hic-fon-almadi-ama-fon-kullananlari-linc-etmeye-calisanlar-kamu-kaynaklariyla-fonlanan-yayinlara-baksinlar,41594
• Taylan, A. (2012). Alternatif Medya ve BİANET Örneği: Türkiye’de Alternatif Medyaya Dair Etnografik Bir Çalışma [Alternative Media and BİANET Example: An Ethnographic Study on Alternative Media in Turkey] [Unpublished doctoral dissertation], Ankara Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Gazetecilik Anabilim Dalı.
• Tuchman, G. (1978). Making news: A study in the construction of reality. Free Press.
• Waltz, M. (2005). Alternative and activist media. Edinburgh University Press.
• Yıldız, A. N. (2020). Alternatif Gazetecilik üzerine Etik Bir Tartışma: Sınırlar, İhlaller ve Olanaklar [An Ethical Debate on Alternative Journalismin V.M. Ayan, E.T. Keten (Eds.) Anaakım Çökerken Alternatif Medyanın Eleştirisi [Criticism of Alternative Media as the Mainstream Collapses] (pp. 35-60). um:ag Vakfı Yayınları.
• Yoksu, M. (2023, August 17). Elini kaybeden işçiye 100 bin lira teklif ettiler: Adalet istiyorum [They offered 100 thousand TL to the worker who lost his hand]. Gazete Duvar. https://www.gazeteduvar.com.tr/elini-kaybeden-isciye-100-bin-lira-teklif-ettiler-adalet-istiyorum-video-1633254 Zhang, S., Lee, S., Hovsepian, K., Morgia, H., Lawrence, K., Lawrence, N., & Hingle, A. (2018). Best practices of news and media web design: an analysis of content structure, multimedia, social sharing, and advertising placements. International Journal of Business Analytics (IJBAN), 5(4), 43-60. DOI: 10.4018/IJBAN.2018100103