"News is Dead, Let’s Kick Up Our Heels"

“There have been censorship, auto-censorship, directly or indirectly intervention in news pieces by editor, fake news stories, provocation to war,and hate speech in the journalism in Turkey through the history and now there are more. This means, news died, so audience amuses themselves watching entertainment channels” he said.

Prof. Dr. Sevda Alankuş, Dean of Communication Faculty at Kadir Has University interpreted 360/Skytürk’s becoming an entertainment channel in bianet with her words.

3 owners in 14 years

TV Channel 360, named as Skytürk at that time, started to broadcast in 2000 within the umbrella of Çukurova Holding. It was one of 5 news channels. Saving Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) seized the channel owned by Mehmet Emin Karaahmet. 

Ethem Sancak bought the channel from TMSF in 2013 and the name of channel became 360. It is stated that the decision of turning 360 into an entertainment channel has been made because it lost money. 

Acun Ilıcalı had stated in 2013 that TV8 channel was going to broadcast as an entertainment channel after he bought the it and dismissed news team of 40.

How are we entertained?

“We used to criticize journalism in general. Now, we are in a time where we are seeking for it,” Prof. Dr. Alankuş said.

“A writer had such a word ‘It is enough to watch Flash TV in order to see the point Turkey arrived’. He is right. Of course, we need to have fun but we should analyze how we are entertained."

“No matter how we are entertained, but we should first discuss how information and news that meet our need of having fun are provided” she said. (EA/MUY/BM)

* Click here to read the article in Turkish.