Working Life Of Journalists: Limits and Problems A Survey Based On Agency and Newspaper Correspondents

The first big transformation in media ownership structure in Turkey occurred in 1980s as newspaper owners with a journalism background withdrew from the press sector and they were replaced by corporate businessmen. It affected the occupational practices of journalists and revealed a new kind of journalistic practice. The second transformation on media ownership occured after 2001 economic crisis. Many media owners –who were bank owners at the same time – were forced to quit the media industry due to the economic difficulties brought about by the bankruptcies in finance sector, and many new media owners entered the media sector. The media ownership structure changed radically due to the intervention of government as well. This study focuses on how this transformation and the current political economy of media affect journalists’ news production process, professional practices and working conditions. This study reveals that this transformation renders the media field more limited and problematical for journalists who have been working under flexible and precarious conditions.