Ali Naci KARACAN

Ali Naci Karacan (1896-1955) was a Turkish journalist, writer and newspaper owner. One of the most important figures in the history of the Turkish press, Karacan started his journalism career at a young age and shaped the society by working in the leading newspapers of the period for many years.

Who is Ali Naci Karacan?

Ali Naci Karacan was born in Istanbul in 1896. After completing Galatasaray High School, he also studied at the French Frerler School (Saint Joseph High School). During his youth, he entered the world of literature by writing poems in aruz meter in the magazine Servet-i Fünun. In the following years, his interest in journalism grew and he started working at the newspaper Tasvir-i Efkâr. He then moved to the newspaper İkdam, where he wrote important articles. During this period, he drew attention especially with his criticism of the Committee of Union and Progress.

During World War I, he served as Goltz Pasha's interpreter in Baghdad. After the war, he was among the founders of Akşam newspaper, which supported Turkey's struggle for independence. In this process, he believed that the War of Independence should be supported from a journalistic perspective and tried to spread this idea through his newspaper. As one of the Turkish journalists covering the Lausanne Peace Conference, he traveled to Switzerland, where he recorded the history of the period by sharing his observations and memories in his book "Lausanne".

Influence and Legacy

Ali Naci Karacan was the editor-in-chief of many important newspapers in his journalism career. He published newspapers such as İkdam, Tan, Politika and İnkılap, which became an important part of the Turkish press. In 1936, he became the representative of Anadolu Agency in Bulgaria and remained abroad until 1948. During this period, he gained experience in international journalism and tried to introduce the Turkish press to the world. In 1950, he founded Milliyet newspaper, bringing a breath of fresh air to the Turkish press. In a short time, Milliyet reached a wide readership and became one of the longest-lived newspapers in Turkey. Ali Naci Karacan shaped his journalistic approach with a publishing program he called "Constitution". This program determined Milliyet's editorial policy and established a strong connection with the public. Karacan's understanding of journalism was based on a libertarian and objective perspective.

Ali Naci Karacan's life was an important turning point in the world of the press. He left a great legacy both in journalism and publishing. When he died in 1955, he left behind a strong newspaper and a great journalistic legacy. With his son Ercüment Karacan and editor-in-chief Abdi İpekçi, Milliyet newspaper kept Karacan's ideals alive. The memory of Ali Naci Karacan is kept alive with the Karacan Award, which has been organized since 1962. This award is given to those who excel in the fields of journalism and writing and plays an important role in reminding us of Karacan's contributions to the Turkish press.