A well-known TV journalist of Türkiye: "We should never move away from humanitarian and categorical criteria"

Yılmaz Akıncı, an employee of the Türkiye office of the Al-Jazeera channel, answered the questions of Turan News Agency after the publication of his memoirs entitled "An Angel on My Tail"

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Turan: Journalism is hard work. Did you become a television journalist knowing this or was it impossible to escape your fate?

Akıncı: I have always sought the truth and tried to give people the right news and information. I had a dream since childhood. I considered it my life principle to pursue the truth not only through journalism, but in various fields. However, life directed me to this field and I tried to realize my ideals with the articles I wrote, the documentaries I made, and the television programs I prepared.

Turan: Are you satisfied with the media in Türkiye? You work for one of the 3 most important television channels in the world, you have more opportunities to observe.

Akıncı: Undoubtedly, there are good journalists in Türkiye. However, looking at it from the other side, there are things that are called "journalism" but are not done according to the nature of journalism. I have to say this too. Currently, in Türkiye, the concepts of news and personal comments are confused. In particular, when I watch the news on the screens, I see that it is more personal opinion than news. However, it is necessary to prepare the news in the most objective way and present it to the spectator or reader. Unfortunately, journalists put themselves in the news, express their feelings and emotions, and present it to the reader-spectator. This is completely wrong. The first task of a journalist is to present the news in the simplest way. I want things to go in this direction in Türkiye.

Turan: Why did things become like this? Before, for example, everyone would impatiently wait for the programs of Mehmet Ali Birand, there were Uğur Dündar, Ali Kırca, etc. Some died, and some were removed from the screens. What is the reason for this?

Akıncı: Unfortunately, wherever the trend is, journalism also goes in that direction.

Turan: Who determines the trend: rulers, politicians, owners of media institutions?

Akıncı: Looking in general, we see that the trend is determined by the power at hand. Power is currently in the hands of the authorities. Of course, the authorities want to set their own rules. But the fault of the media is no less. For example, Turgut Özal's wife Semra Özal's clothes were fashionable in the past and did not leave the media. Since the current power has been in Erdoğan's hands for a long time, they determine the modern trend. It's a pity that trends can control the media so much.

Turan: Do such trends happen in the West?

Akıncı: Today we can see the same things in many countries of the world. Look at Israel for example. While the government is trying to strengthen the media it considers close to itself, it does not hesitate to declare others criminals and terrorists.

Turan: Doesn't the media die in this situation? Because there can be no media where the environment is not free. If the press emerged as a requirement of development and civilization, isn't the unfree media dead from the beginning?

Akinci: Disasters begin when the third eye disappears. All societies that receive information from free media thrive. Pursuing non-free media means feeding on misinformation, slander, and rumors. The destruction of freedom of speech and expression is equal to the death of the world.

Turan: You wrote your memoirs after working in the field of journalism for more than 20 years. I'm sure this won't be your first book. During this 20-year period, what events do you remember the most, who were you able to interview?

Akıncı: There have been many events. Sometimes a gun was pointed at me. I still don't understand why I went to very dangerous places without a bodyguard, and I attribute it to my love for my profession. In 2003, rockets were fired in the desert zone of Mosul province, Iraq. We had to leave quickly. At that time, I was working at the ABC television channel. But we continued to broadcast the news live. I remember not moving when the cannons opened fire in Syria. There were times when we were in the middle of crossfire. There were times when I took unnecessary risks. I remember interviewing the late Bülent Ecevit. Being so young, I never forget. I interviewed Hikmet Çetin when he was the speaker of the parliament. I interviewed the late Rauf Denktaş for Reuters. I went to Ukraine a few days after the Russian attack on Ukraine, and I went to Baku and from there to Karabakh after the 44-day operations of Azerbaijan. I believe that I work by fulfilling the humanitarian and categorical principles of journalism everywhere. Especially, when I was in Ukraine, I saw everything with my own eyes. I witnessed the emotions of some Azerbaijani citizens who returned to Shusha after 30 years. The feelings they and I experienced were engraved in my soul. I will never forget the glow I saw in people's eyes after the 40-day siege of Kyiv.

Turan: Will you write your new book after 20 years of experience in the future or sooner?

Akıncı: I am working on a novel in which events take place in a mental hospital. In my opinion, some of the outcasts have deep intelligence. I find their life interesting. I write my observations about how they see the world. I plan to finish and print it this year.