In the last decade, a population of over 3.5 million refugees, largely fleeing war in Syria, has settled in Turkey. This segment of society is often mischaracterized in mainstream media, their voices and perspectives are not heard, and... more
In the last decade, a population of over 3.5 million refugees, largely fleeing war in Syria, has settled in Turkey. This segment of society is often mischaracterized in mainstream media, their voices and perspectives are not heard, and they are not targeted as an audience as news is largely produced in Turkish language. Many Syrians in Turkey rely on Syrian-based news agencies, although an ethnic-based media has also emerged to serve the needs and interests of Syrians living in Turkey. This chapter draws on in-depth interviews (n = 12) conducted via electronic media of 11 Syrian ethnic journalists working in Turkey and 1 employee working at an NGO concerned with refugee media. The analysis highlights the voices and perspectives of Syrian ethnic journalists serving their constituents in Turkey, whose purpose is not only to serve the information-seeking needs to Syrian refugees, but also to express a broader perspective on Syrians in today’s Turkey. Subsequent sections explore the role of Syrian ethnic media in reducing discrimination against Syrians. Final sections reflect on the role of ICTs in Syrian ethnic media in Turkey and some broader implications of the findings.
This paper examines German Immigrant newspapers, public opinion and the paradox of free speech during the period of 1917-1918. The history of the German-American immigrant press illustrates how governments take steps to suppress ethnic... more
This paper examines German Immigrant newspapers, public opinion and the paradox of free speech during the period of 1917-1918. The history of the German-American immigrant press illustrates how governments take steps to suppress ethnic media, curtailing their exercise of free speech in a political climate that is anti-immigrant. The strenuous interactions between legal measures, government propaganda, distrust of all things German, and economic hardships caused by loss of advertising and subscribers, diminished the German-American press’s role.
