Journalists-turned-politicians who are MPs or standing for parliament speak about the thin line between journalism and politics

 

YILDIZ YAZICIOĞLU, ANKARA

 

The relationship between the media and politics has been a hotly debated issue throughout Turkey’s history. Practicing journalists cannot avoid establishing connections with politicians, or any other professional group. However, the nature and degree of connections established with political actors can be such that they occasionally spark debate about the ethics of journalism.

 

As journalists are expected to serve the “right of the people to be informed,” they are assumed to be working for the public good. It is also clear that the same expectation of working for the public good also applies to politicians. Therefore, it may be said that there is a thin line between the two fields which have the common purpose of serving the public. In practice, on the other hand, it is a fact that there are politicians and journalists who have strayed away from the legal framework and ethical values.

 

Leaving aside this fact, this article focuses on journalists who are active in politics; journalists who are standing for parliament in the general election on 14 May 2023 and those who are already members of parliament.

 

There are many journalists who are running for parliament as party candidates. Some of them, listed in alphabetical order, with electoral districts and ranking on the party candidate roster are: Enis Berberoğlu (CHP, İstanbul 2nd district, rank 4), Şebnem Bursalı (AKP, İzmir, 1st district, rank 3); Hasan Cemal (Green Left Party, İstanbul, 2nd district, rank 3), Hulki Cevizoğlu (AKP, İstanbul, 1st district, rank 6) Utku Çakırözer (CHP, Eskişehir, rank 1), Cengiz Çandar (Green Left Party, Diyarbakır, rank 3), İrfan Değirmenci (TİP, İzmir, 2nd district, rank 1), Ayşegül Doğan (Green Left Party, Şırnak, rank 3), Orhan Kızılaslan (BBP, Gaziantep, rank 1), Okan Konuralp (CHP, Ankara 1st district, rank 3), Ahmet Şık (TİP, İstanbul, 1st district, rank 1), Umur Talu (TİP, İstanbul 3rd district, rank 3) and Selcan Taşçı (İYİ Party, Tekirdağ, rank 1).

 

Of these candidates, we discussed the transition from journalism to MP with Enis Berberoğlu, Şebnem Bursalı, Utku Çakırözer, Umur Talu and Selcan Taşçı. As Berberoğlu and Çakırözer are currently MPs, they evaluated the matter from the perspective of journalists who have already become politicians.

 

“I’m a retired journalist”

 

Experienced journalist Enis Berberoğlu served as the editor-in-chief of the daily Hürriyet, considered the “flagship” of the Turkish media at the time, between December 2009 and August 2014. Upon entering politics, he served as MP for İstanbul for the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) in the 25th, 26th and 27th parliaments. He was tried in connection to claims of illegal transfer of arms from Turkey to Syria and was sentenced to 25 years of imprisonment in June 2017. Berberoğlu was disqualified from office due to the sentence on 4 June 2020. However, he regained office as MP on 11 February 2021 following the Constitutional Court’s ruling finding that his conviction constituted a violation of his constitutional rights.

 

Speaking to Expression Interrupted, CHP MP Berberoğlu described his approach to the relationship between journalism and politics as follows: “Journalism and politics cannot be practiced at the same time. Due to my respect for the profession of journalism, whenever I’m introduced as a journalist, I remind people that I’m a retired journalist. So, my relationship to journalism is no different than that of a dentist, a doctor or a lawyer. It was a profession I practiced once upon a time. I am now a politician. You may say I have a “background in journalism.” There is regulation concerning lawyers. When they are MPs, they cannot practice as attorneys. There should be a very clear demarcation between journalism and politics as well. I’m not suggesting journalists should not become MPs. They should, but they should quit journalism. So, I cannot be a politician and act like a journalist when it suits me better. The sanctity of news should not be harmed. I’m not criticizing anyone for not acting like me. But this is my approach.”

 

“We will stop journalism being treated as a crime”

 

Berberoğlu stated that his party would take steps to strengthen the freedom of the press with a victory for the Nation Alliance (Millet İttifakı in Turkish) for which he is running on 14 May. Berberoğlu answered the question on what would change for journalism should there be a change in government as follows:

 

“We will stop journalism being treated as a crime, that much is certain. This is a statement about which all elements of the Nation Alliance agree, which has been introduced in joint documents, and more importantly has become a part of our discourse which we use when asking people to vote for us during the campaign: Journalism is not a crime. One of the first things we will do in this regard is to restore the center in the media. Turkey should have a media that speaks to everyone. Only that way can democracy function without disruption. To quote the late journalist Uğur Mumcu, no one should have opinions without having information. At its present state, the media cannot provide that necessary information.”

 

Berberoğlu pointed out that constitutional safeguards are necessary for journalism to be practiced freely and discussed the issue of how journalism should be practiced with public funding. He said “The [public broadcaster] TRT and [state-run] Anadolu Agency should not serve as a loudspeaker for the government. They should become platforms open to everyone. The Press Advertising Agency (BİK) should act fairly and the chimerical entity known as the Directorate of Communications of the Presidency and similar structures should be dissolved.”

 

“Journalists feel close to politics due to their profession”

 

Journalist Şebnem Bursalı, who is running for parliament as candidate for the governing Justice and Development Party (AKP), said that the Directorate of Communications acts to improve working conditions for journalists and it could hold workshops with journalists’ organizations as part of this work. Bursalı emphasized that the impact of the internet had altered the conventional media order and that the strong language employed on social media generates a perception which unfortunately overshadows journalisms and the news. She said, “Whatever can be done for the benefit of the profession should be done together with no ideological distinctions regarding the media sector.”

 

When asked to comment on the transition from journalism to MP, Bursalı said: “Why shouldn’t journalists enter politics. Of course, they can enter politics. Just as doctors, pharmacists, engineers, lawyers or businesspeople enter politics, journalists may also do so. In a sense, journalists feel close to politics due to their profession… At the end of the day, of course we may find ourselves active in politics. Of course, we adhere to party discipline. Just as we practice journalism in media organizations as long as we do not violate editorial policy, we need to practice politics with party discipline in mind. I did not find it very difficult to be honest. Because I have 30 years of experience as an Ankara journalist and a manager. I always wrote about politics, interpreted politics, followed politics and reported on it. As a manager I did not stop active reporting. For this reason, of course there should be journalists in politics.”

 

“I don’t think it would be considered odd”

 

Şebnem Bursalı argued for continuing with journalism and writing columns at the same time as serving as MP, if she is elected. She said: “Remaining a journalist while practicing politics, maintaining such a position is of course not that easy. There is general acceptance that journalists should be objective. In politics, you pick a side. But in general, the red lines are clear. They are the country, the flag, the state, [founder of the Turkish Republic Kemal] Atatürk, the republic, secularism, unity and integrity of the country. This general framework is frankly our boldest red line. There may be differences in interpretation within this framework. Continuing to practice journalism while being active in politics may appear to be too partisan from the perspective of someone on the other side. However, as everyone is more partisan these days, it does not matter for which side. Frankly, I don’t think it would be considered odd.”

 

“Changing the order for more freedom”

 

Umur Talu, running with the Workers’ Party of Turkey (TİP) is a candidate who wants to bring his approach to journalism into politics. Talu summarized his approach saying, “If I enter parliament as a journalist, I’ll act the same way as I did as a journalist trying to be a voice for the same people.”

 

Commenting on his goals for journalism, he said: “I will strive for a press-media order which is free, not univocal, liberated from oppression, in which the rights and independence of journalists and employees are protected - or rather established anew- and monopolies are broken up. I would imagine an environment based on the Turkish Journalists' Declaration of Rights and Responsibilities, which I took part in drafting.”

 

Talu argued for the necessity of creating a new environment from scratch, beyond changing the status quo, that concerns everything from ownership structure to rights and freedoms, the principle of equality and fairness and opportunities for print and digital distribution and access.

 

“The actual problem is due to people who are not in politics but act as spokespersons”

 

Talu said that journalism was perhaps the profession closest to politics and added: “Commentary is political. So is the choice of which news to run. So are civil society activities. However, if a journalist is active in politics, they should not make use of columns and other news media. This is what the Declaration says too. That’s why I stopped writing the moment my candidacy was announced. And so it should be. Acting otherwise would present a conflict. However, the actual problem is due to people who are not in politics but act as spokespersons [of political parties].”

 

Umur Talu said that one’s background as a journalist is not erased, adding: “[However, once they enter politics] there should be no journalists continuing to practice their profession. That said, experience as a journalist, its principles, inclusiveness, the curiosity and talent for research it entails are some of the most necessary attributes for politics. A true journalist is someone who tries to make voices heard, who tries to understand and explain, to write and report in order to change what is bad, to produce, pick and research news to this end. In a sense, politics is a similar activity.”

 

Wages, social and unionization rights

 

Another journalist who is running for parliament whom we interviewed, Selcan Taşçı, said that it is necessary to bring in regulation that will prevent the state from using its powers and authority to put the media in line, which is usually done unduly but sometimes in adherence to the letter of the law. Taşçı, who is standing as candidate with the opposition İYİ Party said “We have already included the issue of restructuring all means that are used to transform, intimidate or obtain compliance from the media, especially the Press Advertising Agency and the Supreme Board of Radio and Television (RTÜK). However, in addition to this, what we need to include in our agenda is replacing our losses over the last 20 years including salary scales, social and unionization rights in the sector.”

 

Taşçı said “There are so many points that need to be addressed. Journalism has become so corrupted that you cannot count them all” and added that the media should stop playing the role of leverage for capital to obtain state tenders. “We cannot begin to speak about free space in the true sense without changing the system that makes some members of the media into brokers, runners and middlemen. Just as important as this is to get rid of polarization and partisanship.”

 

“The principles of the profession of journalism are clear and all members of the profession need to adhere to them whatever their affiliations, ideology, direction or orientation may be. To this end we need to change the approach of being ‘democratic to one’s own,’ the understanding of ‘my adherents do right whatever they do,’ the ‘caste system’ and the inequality of women and men within the sector. Reporting, which has had an upsurge recently with the personal efforts of a few colleagues needs to be repositioned at the center of the profession.”

 

“Journalists should not have the reflexes of a politician”

 

On the transition from journalism to MP, Selcan Taşçı said: “If the mission of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) is to act as proxy to the nation, then of course journalists, like any other professionals, can and should be in politics. I don’t think this contradicts the principles of journalism. On the contrary, I think journalists do very well in active politics because of the public responsibility they shouldered before. There is a lot of confusion as journalists have been confounded with ‘commentators’ for a while now in Turkey. Therefore, it would be very beneficial for MPs to act with the reflexes of a journalist but journalists to not have the reflexes of a politician. If they can draw the line at the right place and at the right time, I don’t think there would be a controversy on principles.”

 

Taşçı has refrains about being a practicing journalist and an MP at the same time. Stating that this could lead to partisanship and “loss of credibility” Taşçı said:

 

“Informing the public correctly, following developments to the public’s benefit or harm, putting them on the political agenda, making them subject to parliamentary proposals, taking them to the judiciary, providing checks, asking questions on behalf of the society are tasks for journalists and MPs alike. In this sense, the two complement each other. However, unlike many other professions, we have the power and opportunity to influence and steer public opinion, which would inevitably lead to becoming cronies and a loss of credibility if the ethical line of principles is not drawn properly. Therefore, I must say that although I am very much for the idea of being an MP as a journalist, I am distant to the idea of practicing journalism as an MP.”

 

“Journalists have become unable to practice their profession”

 

Utku Çakırözer, who is currently a CHP MP and is expected to be re-elected in Eskişehir where he is the first ranked candidate on the party list, said that while journalists faced pressure and censorship in almost every period of Turkey’s history, the 22 years of AKP government have made journalists unable to practice their profession.

 

Çakırözer emphasized that he had fought on behalf of journalism in parliament and said: “Journalists who want to report the news in Turkey are threatened, assaulted and are arrested and imprisoned for years in unfair and illegal trials based on their reporting. News reporting is prevented by the police. RTÜK wants to suppress television channels that show the facts with fines and broadcasting bans, while the Press Advertising Agency tries to suppress newspapers with public advertisement fines.”

 

Çakırözer summarized his activities in parliament on behalf of the main opposition CHP as follows:

 

“Since the day I was elected MP, I regularly prepared press freedom reports to inform and raise the awareness of the public about the restrictions imposed on journalists. I presented draft laws, parliamentary investigation proposals and parliamentary questions to resolve the problems with the freedom of the press. As the CHP we made attempts in parliamentary commissions and the plenary to prevent the legislation brought before the TBMM by the government that would limit the freedom of press organizations and journalists. However, we did not have the majority the resolve these issues. I believe that the nation will own up to democracy and the freedom of expression and of the press as its essential element at the polls on 14 May.”

 

“Monopolies in the media should be prevented”

 

Çakırözer said that should his party win the election their priority would be to strengthen the freedom of the press and said, “We will clearly regulate the state’s obligation to take the necessary measures to ensure the media acquire a pluralistic structure. We will make legal and structural changes so that the Press Advertising Agency can carry out its duties independently and impartially. We will restructure the TRT and Anadolu Agency on grounds of independence and impartiality.” Çakırözer added “Once we can realize all this, Turkey will be free of its current dark outlook on the freedom of the press.”

 

When asked what else needs to change Çakırözer said that the investigation and prosecution of journalists due to their expressions and reporting should be prevented. Adding that prosecutors and judges in Turkey should adhere to European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) judgments on the freedom of the press and expression without exception, Çakıözer said “Public regulatory organizations that are supposed to safeguard the free publication and broadcasting of newspapers and televisions should be made to return to their constitutionally defined tasks. Arbitrary press accreditation decisions should stop and journalists’ organizations should get to make decisions for issuing press cards and admittance to the profession. Media ownership and financing should be made transparent and monopolies and cartels in the media should be prevented.”

 

“Journalists should take a break from the profession when they enter politics”

 

To the question whether there is a professional contradiction in the transition from journalism to politics, Çakırözer replied:

 

“Should journalists be able to become politicians? Yes, if members of all other professions can become politicians, so can journalists. In fact, as the common ground for journalists and politicians is protecting the public good and interest, journalists can easily pick up the responsibility of providing checks to the government on behalf of the public which is essentially their original profession. At least, that has been my experience. Questioning, researching and data checking, which are the main features of journalism are also essential for the institution of politics. If journalists take a break from their profession when they enter politics, there is no contradiction. My personal opinion is that it is not right to practice politics and journalism at the same time. Journalists who enter parliament may on special occasions contribute to newspapers as guest writers. However, practicing journalism and politics simultaneously could lead to the violation of the professional principles of journalism, which is the common concern.”