Üsküdar University Rector Güngör: Ratings and circulation should not be the only concern of the media in the murder of Narin Güran
Üsküdar University Rector Nazife Güngör stated that there are information gaps in the murder of Narin Güran, and that the media is trying to fill these gaps by writing a 'script'. Stating that the media should inform the society with accurate and reasonable information, Güngör said that "Ratings and circulation should not be the only concern."
8-year-old Narin Güran went missing in Diyarbakır on August 21, and her lifeless body was found in a river bottom 19 days later.
The investigation into the death of Narin Güran by the Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor's Office continues.
Üsküdar University Rector Prof. Nazife Güngör made evaluations on the subject in the program "İsmet Özçelik ile Ankara Farkı" broadcast on Radio Sputnik. Drawing attention to the social responsibility of the media, Güngör gave the following messages:
'Media should focus on healing, not the disease'
"When journalists convey information about events, they must predict the social impact of that information very well. If that social influence is going to make society even more diseased, it needs to filter information accordingly. Information should not make society sicker. If there is a disease somewhere, there should be a discourse style that will contribute to the healing of that disease with the information to be given. Therefore, media professionals need to pay attention to all this. Ratings and circulation should not be the only concern of the media. The media should not put on a show of its own by instrumentalizing the grave events that are happening in society. We are all responsible to society, but the media is the most responsible. Because each of our journalists is also an opinion leader and a model person. Therefore, every discourse of that model person affects society. Therefore, if the journalist goes on television screens and cries instead of telling the story, the society will cry too. The media should contribute to healing, not the disease."
'Media should convey information, not fill in the gaps with comments'
"A lot of people are saying things every day about this little kid, getting involved in the event, being included in the agenda. Media outlets are making some discussions, and unrelated individuals are saying some things on social media. There are gaps in knowledge on the subject. Perhaps the biggest mistake the media makes is that our journalists try to fill those gaps with some comments. There are gaps in the motive, the investigation into the cause of the incident is ongoing. A number of media outlets and journalists feel the need to come out and fill in all those gaps."
'We must let the law do its job'
"Sadly, a little girl was taken away from her life. However, the next thing to do is to let the law do its job. Legal processes are ongoing. After the legal processes, the necessary information will be transferred. Of course, journalists will follow the incident and inform the public. However, while reporting on what is happening, they should also evaluate the mental state of the society and the dynamics in the society very well because these events should not turn into traumatic situations that will affect society while the media is reporting on even. For this reason, every news to be made and every information to be conveyed to the society should be for the sake of improving the society, not further injuring the society because the primary mission of the journalist is to provide information that will contribute to preventing this problem from happening again if there is a problem. To provide information that will also contribute to the solution of these problems. Thus, first of all, news sources must be identified very accurately."
'Moral panic is being created in society'
"Interested and indifferent circles instrumentalize this incident and increase emotional tension and moral panic in society. There are many children of the same age, and they may be experiencing traumas. The subject is covered so much in the media that the already traumatic event turns into a permanent social trauma. Information is being conveyed through a number of scenarios based on unfounded information."
'Society should not be accustomed to such incidents'
"Everybody's saying something about it. Since the media was in search of material, the event was somehow removed from its original axis and became ordinary. In fact, this society is not as saddened by murders and violence as it used to be. Journalists shed tears on screens, but society has become accustomed to it. It has become increasingly accustomed to the media to use elements of violence so much in all kinds of images. Therefore, it is necessary to question whether it has turned into a social trauma or whether the society is in such a chaotic situation that it cannot experience traumas, whether it is at the point of blockage."
Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)