Prof. Nazife Güngör: "A madman throws a stone into a well…"
Üsküdar University Rector Prof. Nazife Güngör, in her weekly column for 12 Punto, addressed the issue of ethics in the journalism profession this week. Here is Güngör's article:
I was very surprised to see myself as the subject of a news story on the education page of a newspaper I follow closely and believed valued professional ethics. It featured a photo taken years ago, sourced from the internet, accompanied by statements that were not mine and claims entirely unrelated to the truth.
I was shocked when I saw the report, but on the other hand, I could not help but laugh to myself, thinking, 'so things like this can actually happen.' I called the newspaper's editor-in-chief and ironically remarked that they could have at least avoided using an old photo where I was heavier. After all, I had worked so hard for years to lose weight, but apparently, our press did not care. That was just a joke, of course. I shared my surprise about the situation with them and expressed my view that things should not have reached this point. Ultimately, I am somewhat involved in the journalism profession myself. Having received substantial journalism training myself in the past, I have also been educating journalists for many years. Honestly, I could not help but feel a bit frustrated, wondering what we are teaching in our classrooms versus what the journalists we train are actually doing.
Anyway, the matter was resolved amicably. I believe the opposite outcome would not have been possible anyway. However, in the meantime, the story had attracted so much attention that numerous websites promptly published it. As if the country had no other pressing issues, our entirely fictional story generated significant buzz in the media, with journalists seemingly racing not to miss out on this 'important' report. Yet, none of them apparently felt the need to contact the source or verify the information's accuracy.
I try to understand the current state of mind of our media, but at the same time, I cannot help but reflect. Journalism is a profession requiring great responsibility. The journalist's raw material is information. To do the job properly, one must first access accurate, relevant, valid, and useful information. It is like the difference between synthetic and organic foods. Consuming synthetic food might provide initial taste pleasure, but due to the chemicals absorbed by our bodies, we might face serious illnesses later on, or even be poisoned. The dissemination of true versus false news or information works similarly. A story with a sensational headline might initially capture the reader's interest and generate public excitement, but once it is revealed to be untrue, the outcome can be detrimental for the source.
Journalism is a difficult profession; it demands great responsibility. Especially in today's information age, practicing journalism has become much harder. There are numerous channels of information flow. Particularly through social media, there is a continuous and multi-directional flow of information from society to journalists. If managed well and correctly, this situation can provide great opportunities for journalism. However, when not managed correctly and carefully, it can also lead to major problems. Therefore, today presents both significant opportunities and serious risks for journalism. It is precisely at this point that journalists need to be much more careful, much more questioning, and much more investigative than before. In an era where information sources have become so complex and convoluted, the journalist's job is far from easy.
On the other hand, during periods of social tension and chaos, our attitudes, behaviors, and thoughts can fall under the influence of our emotions. In periods when emotions like panic, excitement, and anxiety rise, reason and logic can become somewhat passive. From the perspective of mass and societal psychology, experiencing such situations is normal. However, it is precisely in such situations that the journalist needs to be extremely careful. While observing events in society, the journalist also has the duty to convey accurate information to the public. Furthermore, they must do so with composure. Not only journalists but everyone involved in producing and disseminating information must maintain common sense in such situations.
Acting with common sense and staying within the bounds of reason does not mean that journalists, or intellectuals in general, should distance themselves from societal processes. However, everyone engaged in intellectual work and information dissemination, especially during times of heightened social activity, needs to be far more composed, sensible, and rational than usual. In this sense, the responsibility of the journalist, who is constantly intertwined with society, is much more serious and important.