IMPRISONED JOURNALISTS PROBLEM IN DEMOCRATIC PARTY PERIOD
DEMOKRAT PARTİ DÖNEMİ TUTUKLU GAZETECİLER SORUNU

Author : Önder DENİZ
Number of pages : 435-446

Abstract

Newspapers which mediate events, facts and ideas to the readers in different ways, turned into a form affecting the political structure directly when Turkey transited to a multiparty system. In the period from 1946 elections to 1950 elections, newspapers firstly gave place to political propagandas of parties in struggle for power. Articles of journalists about their political views influenced development of democracy. Pro-electoral promises in 1950 grabbed headlines of the newspapers. Democratic Party giving freedom and happiness promises to every part of society became the strongest party for government. Press was taken its share from pledges of Democratic Party which was trying to come into power with liberal expressions. Democratic Party which came to the throne alone kept the promises it gave to the press. In this regard, two statues giving priority to press freedom and protecting press labour came into force. Problems of newspaper bosses and journalists were taken seriously and tried to be solved. Relations of press and governments went on intimate relations for three years. Good relations between press and government changed reversely before 1954 elections. Opposing journalists posed great hazard for the government. The government removed these threads by adopting a law which was against press freedom. The rule of Law on Crimes Committed by Publishing or Radio intended to squelch opposing journalists in Turkey. The striking point in the law is that there is no right of proof for journalists. Number of journalists put on trials reached to thousands within enforcement of this law. Journalists were prevented from writing critical articles. They reported news of their imprisoned colleagues every day. The most important problem of the Turkish press in the period of Democratic Party was imprisoned journalists.

Keywords

Turkish Press History, Democratic Party, Press Law, Turkish Political History, Press Freedom

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