SULTAN YAVUZ – Financed by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the Association of Journalists “Media for Democracy/Democracy for Media Programme” (M4D) hosted economy correspondent Çiğdem Toker at the Press House in Ankara.

The opening speech of the event was made by M4D Assistant Programme Director Seva Ülman who remarked Toker is one of the most competent economic correspondents in Turkey.
Ülman gave brief biographical information about Toker who started her career in journalism in 1986 at Anka Agency as a culture and arts correspondent after finishing her degree at Ankara University, Faculty of Law. Toker began her career as an economy correspondent in 1993 at Hürriyet newspaper’s Ankara bureau, she later worked as Ankara representative for Akşam newspaper then moving to Cumhuriyet. Ülman remarked that Toker left Cumhuriyet with fellow colleagues in protest of the restructuring of the newspaper. Shortly thereafter, Toker moved to Sözcü newspaper, where she currently works.
After the opening speech, Çiğdem Toker began her talk by pointing out that it is not necessary to have a degree in economics to be an economics correspondent but it is required to have a fundamental understanding of economics, and to be able to form logical connections between developments. Toker said these words about being an economics correspondent “It’s a different way of feeling; you need to process things both in your heart and conscience. We could say that being an economics correspondent is a feeling of constant rebellion. Economics correspondents reveal the truth hidden under clusters of information.”

“As an economics correspondent, people make decisions based on what you write”
Toker stressed that the rules applicable in the field of economic journalism are important in other fields of journalism, but writing news about the economy requires significant attention. Toker said:
“As an economics correspondent, people make decisions based on what you write; they invest or they save up, any mistake you make might have serious consequences. The principles of journalism such as respecting the right of the parties to respond and correct news, confirming sources etc. These are all true for economics correspondents, too.
It is also ethically important not to use the data provided by the profession for yourself and the people you know. In addition, it is necessary to ensure that some sources are not perceived as journalists in order not to mislead the public. For example, a banker who writes in the newspaper should tell the reader that he is not a journalist. ”
Toker remarked that certain content that in the public’s interest might not be published and public officials are legally restricted as sources. She also emphasized that it is important to protect the source of your news when sharing your content become inevitable. “In some exceptional cases, if the publication of that news will provide a greater public benefit than its non-publication, then it’s published” said Toker.
 

“January 24 is considered a milestone for economics correspondents”
Toker remarked that “the January 24 Decisions” are considered a milestone for economics correspondents since Turkey transitioned from a protectionist economy to a free-market. The economic decisions proclaimed on 5 April 1994 were also underlined by Toker, she also mentioned that “the Economics Correspondents Association” was founded in 1987.
Toker said that the “January 24 Decisions” are commemorated in association with President Turgut Özal, following the decisions topics such as money and foreign currency drew much attention, and people began following expert opinions. Toker talked about the developments following the decisions:
“While the military coup and martial law brought with it violations of rights, it also narrowed the field of politics. In this period, when newspapers appeared with empty white corners, business journalism was indirectly affected. With January 24, the space devoted to the economy in the newspapers increased, as well as on the television… Normally politics and economics are mutual things, but in those days they were exclusive. Prior to this, content in papers focused on unemployment and workers’ rights; this was replaced by journalism serving the interests of big capital. The establishment of the ISE and the Capital Markets Board increased the need for debt instruments, new financial information and economic reporting. Nezih Demirkent and Dunya newspaper are the first names to come to mind in this sense. Such publications increased in number with the addition of “Rapor” and “Barometre”. In the early 1990s, magazines did great business. Magazines such as “Panorama”, “Ekonomist”, “Nokta”, “Macro” and “Capital” were founded, of course there was no internet back then. We can separate journalism into two period: before the internet and after the internet.
Following the crisis of 1994, people began to be more interested in business journalism. There was a sudden boom in the economy and financial markets, and business journalism tried to lead the way.”
 

“Between 1990 and 2000 radical changes took place between media, capital and the political power”
Toker remarked there were significant changes in the relations between the media, magnates and the political power between 1990 and 2000, she also underlined that the selling of ATV in 2008 was a reaking point. Toker explained the changing understanding of journalism with the following words:
“Journalism has changed, but before the deterioration began media owners used to participate in public tenders to be close to power, now media ownership is imposed on pro-government companies. There is a monopolization of power, authoritarianism and nepotism… When you criticize the government or ask them questions they come at you. The media no longer supervises the government, as it should. Instead, the media conducts its propaganda and targets people. That's why business journalism has become even more important. Iran, the United States, China, no matter where you are, governments are using their powers to silence those who are asking questions on behalf of the public.”

“The essence of journalism does not change ”
Toker mentioned that the media is effected by how political regimes change in Turkey, but digital media can be a way out as it can convey content by combining audial, visual and written elements simultaneously. She also emphasized that due to being able to immediately correct content online it can negatively affect how the truth is being portrayed in news articles: “Although its full of ambiguity, online journalism provides us with many opportunities. It is now possible to produce news without having to appease those in power, without capital dependence. I do not know if the institutionalization in the media will change, if it will become like it used to be… but there definitely will be a way out, the essence of journalism does not change. ”