“Fund-Based Model Ensures Independent Journalism”

On its 4th day, IPS Communication Foundation’s OHO program has resumed yesterday with visits to bianet, Acik Radyo, Human Rights Association of Turkey, Laz Culture Association and Greek Endowments Association.

The program hosts 24 new journalist candidates from 22 different universities, allowing them to interact with and learn from media professionals and academicians from various backgrounds.  

“We bring up challenging questions” 

OHO’s forth day kicked off with the newsroom visit of bianet - a prominent internet news agency focusing on rights-based journalism in Turkey. 

bianet editor-in-chief Haluk Kalafat briefed journalist candidates on the daily work flow of bianet, as well as how bianet differed from mainstream news organizations. 

“What makes bianet different,” Kalafat said, “is when Cemil Çiçek’s candidacy as Parliament Chairman is at stake, we bring up the question ‘why there are no female candidates?’ We look at news from this perspective. If we are to interview two people on equal qualifications, we choose the woman interviewee.” 

Collective broadcasting

Following bianet visit, OHO’s young journalist candidates took a short walk to Açık Radyo building in Tophane district. They were received by Açık Radyo editor-in-chief Ömer Madra who explained about how Açık Radyo was founded in 1995 and functioned since then. 

We are doing a collective broadcasting and our income is based on our listeners, Madra said. 

“Açık Radyo survives on the shoulders of its listeners. Our model and bianet’s fund-based model enables independent journalism. On one hand you democratize the discourse, on the other hand you push journalist to account for their actions,” he said. 

First NGO to open after 1980 Coup 

OHO participants then visited Human Rights Association of Turkey (IHD) and discussed about struggle against human rights abuses, unclaimed killings, refugees and state policies in Turkey. 

Following 1980 Military Coup, NGOs fell really weak in Turkey, IHD Istanbul Administrator Hulusi Zeybel said. He also reminded that IHD marked the first NGO to open after the coup. 

Struggle to preserve Laz language 

The program resumed with a visit to Laz Culture Association, an NGO dedicated to the preservation of Laz language of Anatolian and Caucasian region. Mehmet Ali Beşli from the association briefed journalists candidates on their activities and encouraged discussions on mother tongue and ecology policies. 

“One of our biggest struggles is to preserve the Laz language,” he said. 

“Minority citizens are equal with others” 

Lastly, OHO’s journalist candidates met with Laki Vingas from Greek Endowments Association to learn about the situation of Greek minorities and their activities in Turkey. OHO participants also visited Ayia Trida Greek Orthodox Church. 

“Minority citizens are equal with others,” Laki Vingas said. He later on briefed in the judicial representation of Turkey’s minorities. (CU/EK/BM)