THE TEST OF THE TURKISH PRESS WITH THE GOVERNMENTS AND DEMOCRAT PARTY EXAMPLE

Abstract

Throughout its history, the Turkish press has struggled hard to be heard freely. From the late Ottoman period to the establishment of the republic and the one-party rule, the struggle for existence has been the main theme of the press in every period. The strongest of the steps taken by the Turkish Press towards a 'free language' was made possible with the transition to multi-party political life. The Democrat Party, which managed to become the most powerful political figure of this period, aroused a great deal of excitement among the public even in the early days of its establishment. This excitement was not limited to the public but spread to all masses with the embrace of the press. Because the Democrat Party, which was seen as a savior by the Turkish press, which was overwhelmed by the oppressive regimes of single-party politics, made constructive discourses supporting freedom of the press during its opposition periods. However, its attempts to control the press starting from the first years of its rule shattered the dreams of a 'fully independent press'. The Democrat Party government, which gradually increased the pressure in the following periods of its rule, tried to fully control the Turkish Press with the new press laws it enacted and to end publications against the government. The Democrat Party government, which spread its repressive attitude throughout the country, officially came to an end with the military coup d'état of May 27, 1960, following a series of protests that began with university student demonstrations