Media ownership structure and media freedom analyzed from a republican conceptualization of freedom

Abstract

This thesis demonstrates how and why contemporary media ownership structure in Turkey damages the internal freedom of journalists. After explaining the emergence of the ownership structure, which is monopolistic, the three motivations of media owners in violating the internal freedom of journalists will be elaborated: individual, economic and ideological. The methods and strategies deployed by owners to further their dominative power will be explained but include wage differentials and de-unionization. Interviews conducted by the researcher for this study and other statements made by journalists, media bosses and politicians will be used to demonstrate violations of the internal freedom of journalists. The exposition of the harmful effects of the ownership structure will be strengthened by a content analysis of media (primarily newspaper and additionally TV broadcast). Two effects of domination as alienation and normalization will also be demonstrated and discussed. It will be shown that with respect to the internal freedom of journalists, Marxian concerns from the critical political school related to media research are more explanatory and comprehensive in comparison with the Weberian arguments and beliefs in managerialism of the liberal pluralist school assumptions.