The death of Narin Güran once again brought the media's approach to women and child murders to the agenda. While some newspapers used phrases like 'She became an angel' and 'Her eyes were sparkling' for Narin, presenters on tabloid programs screamed, an anchor cried live on air, and a reporter said, 'I had a premonition she would be found.' Uskudar University Rector Prof. Dr. Nazife Güngör evaluated how Narin Güran's death was covered by the media and the impact of these approaches on society.
The death of 8-year-old Narin Güran, whose lifeless body was found 19 days after she went missing in Tavşantepe Neighborhood of Bağlar district in Diyarbakır, deeply affected all of Turkey.
The incident, which shook the media agenda with arrests, releases, search efforts, allegations, and speculations, and resonated widely, once again brought the media's approach to women and child murders to the agenda. While some newspapers addressed Narin's death with emotional language, using phrases like 'She became an angel' and 'Her eyes were sparkling,' social media phenomena screamed on television, and a reporter commented, 'I had a premonition she would be found today.' Additionally, an anchor presented the news crying live on air.
How should such news be covered in the media, and what are the points to consider? Uskudar University Rector Prof. Dr. Nazife Güngör evaluated how Narin Güran's death was covered in the media and the impact of these approaches on society.
Ratings, Circulation, Individual Showmanship
Nazife Güngör, stating that such incidents can sometimes turn into a show, spoke as follows:
"Certain segments try to turn such incidents to their own advantage. That is, there's a horrific event, but some try to gain maximum benefit from it. Unfortunately, our media also pursued maximum benefit from this situation. Some turned this grave incident into a ratings concern, some into a circulation concern, and some into their individual show," she said.
"A Journalist Has No Such Right"
On some screens, news anchors deliver the news while crying. This situation overshadows the event itself. A journalist has no such right; it is unacceptable to use the event to put on their own show. We camouflage the event with our own tears, putting on our own show instead of conveying information. Therefore, attention must be paid to this. Now they will say: "We are human too, so we can't bear it, we get emotional." You will bear it, you will organize your emotions in some way. Go cry behind the camera after you've delivered your news, but why cry in front of the screens?"
"Targeting is Not the Media's Job"
"Some reporters also continuously report from the village where the incident occurred, in tears, but say, 'I can't get information.' In that case, don't stay in that village. This grave incident is also being handled on a legal dimension. The media should not declare anyone guilty or define a crime before investigation and judicial processes are completed. Targeting or defining a culprit in information transfer is not the media's job."
"They Are Also After Their Own Populism"
Güngör, evaluating politicians' approach to the Narin incident as follows:
"In the Narin incident, some politicians also get involved and make statements. They are also after their own populism. The incident is turned into a fictional scenario, and the real problem is detached from its context. Afterwards, it is forgotten. Such incidents have always occurred in Turkey, but a large part remained within the structure of a closed society. With the spread of social media, local incidents quickly reflected in the media."
"Are Our Genes Corrupted?"
Güngör, addressing the social dimension of the incident, said:
"A young child, not yet mature within social relationships, is killed due to family problems or chaotic environments; their right to life is taken away. This indicates a major social stagnation and contamination. Are the problems in family structures, economic issues, or cultural crises? Are our genes corrupted? All of these need to be questioned and researched from expert perspectives and academically. Not informing society does not solve the problem. Society needs to be informed and enlightened. If information is provided, problems are reflected upon, and solutions are generated. A society unaware of its own problems cannot solve them."