The country that I'm presenting is Turkey. Turkey is located between Europe and Asia, and has a rich cultural heritage shaped by both Western and Eastern influences and traditions. Politically, the country has been under the strong influence of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose government has been characterized by increasing authoritarianism, particularly since the 2016 coup attempt. Economically, Turkey is an upper-middle-income country, though it has experienced recent struggles with inflation and currency devaluation. These political and economic changes have had a significant influence on the country’s media landscape. According to the BBC news, Hundreds of private TV and radio stations exist. However, broadcasting and the press are dominated by pro-government outlets. Critical news outlets face the risk of being raided or fined. Most arrested journalists are charged with membership in, or propaganda for, groups deemed to be terrorist organizations. With mainstream media largely off-limits, independent and opposition voices often rely on social media to share news and opinion. However, the authorities often impose tough restrictions on social media platforms to control information, including by entirely blocking access.
image source: https://www.britannica.com/topic/flag-of-Turkey
The theory of the press that applies most to Turkey is the authoritarian theory. According to Converging Media, Authoritarian Theory describes a system where the government exerts direct control over the mass media. I believe that Turkey has an authoritarian theory because the Turkish government has a strong grip on both traditional and digital media, often using legal means, economic pressure, and political influence to control narratives. Many media outlets are owned by conglomerates with close ties to the ruling party, and independent journalists often face arrest or intimidation. In terms of media sectors, print media in Turkey is heavily censored and often contains propaganda. Major newspapers that are aligned with the government are openly welcomed, while opposition papers often face frequent legal challenges from the government. Radio and television are similarly dominated by state-friendly broadcasters, while independent stations often face fines or license revocations if they go against the government. Turkey’s cinema industry is under the same state pressure as the others. Filmmakers often avoid political themes to bypass censorship or ensure access to state funding. Internet freedom in Turkey has also declined in recent years. The government blocks websites, restricts social media, and monitors online activities. An example of this is when Turkey blocked Wikipedia, Twitter, and YouTube. Online news outlets and independent blogs that report critically are often forced offline or fined. Surveillance and prosecution of users for “spreading terrorist propaganda” are common. Turkey’s cinema industry is growing but operates under state pressure. These examples shows that Turkey is under the authoritarian theory because they limit access to media, pressure journalist, and exert direct control over the mass media to fit their agenda.
The theory of the press in Turkey is different from that used in the United States. The theory of the press used in the United States is more libertarian and social responsibility. According to Converging Media, libertarian theory is defined as the belief that the individual should be free to publish whatever she or he likes, and social responsibility is defined as the systems of mass communication in most democratic societies. It holds that to provide the most reliable and impartial information to the public, the media in a democracy should be free from most governmental constraints. I believe that the United States has a libertarian and social responsibility because there are thousands of media sites and journalist out there trying to cover events in their own words without being threatened by the government. However, this approach does have its problems. For example, a massive problem caused by these theories is misinformation, which can be dangerous.
In conclusion, the media systems of Turkey and the United States are different in structure, function, and freedom. Turkey’s authoritarian media model prioritizes state control and narrative management, often at the cost of truth, accountability, and diversity of opinion by the masses. The United States, by comparison, upholds media freedom of speech, even amid challenges like misinformation. Each system has its own pros and cons. Turkey’s centralized model allows for the rapid spreading of state-approved information and tight control over public sentiment, but it does so at the cost of silencing dissent and reducing public opinion. The U.S. system might seem perfect on the outside, but it must constantly negotiate the balance between freedom and responsibility, especially in the digital era, where misinformation can spread , which can be dangerous if unhandled.
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