Üsküdar University Violence and Crime Fighting Application and Research Center (ŞİDAM) and the Forensic Science and Criminal Justice Club organized an event on crime-fighting journalism. In the event, where Anadolu Agency (AA) Security Reporter Halil Demir was a guest, the experienced reporter made evaluations regarding crime fighting and security reporting.
“Let’s do crime-fighting journalism, not crime-inciting journalism”
Demir, who provides training at various universities in Turkey under the title "Considering Public Interest in Security Journalism," shared his experiences with Forensic Science students. Emphasizing the need to pay attention to the language used in crime-fighting journalism and meticulously choose words, Demir stated: "In drug-related news, the language should be free from encouragement and promotion. Even a comma within the text in anti-terrorism news can affect the meaning. It is also necessary to be careful with photo and video shares outside of the text. You should refrain from sharing photos of neutralized terrorists, and from making news and shares that would incite or provoke people to violence."
“Our aim in the news we make is to create a more livable world”
Demir drew attention to the importance of engaging in activities aimed at positively increasing societal and individual awareness from a legal and ethical perspective, underlining that this should not be forgotten in the news made. Demir said: "Social media is a huge factor in influencing society, but above that, there is print and visual media. If news agencies quickly publish the correct information on controversial topics, provocation and misunderstandings are prevented from the outset. Our job is to create a more livable world. In news about femicides, by labeling the headline as ‘femicide’ with the intention of positive discrimination for women, we are not benefiting society, but harming it. It is a known fact that news of murders has a sociologically adverse effect on crime-prone individuals, and these individuals are taken as examples. I do not use the words 'woman' and 'murder' together; the word 'murder' does not suit the word 'woman' in any way!"
“My side is my State, my Country, and my Nation”
Very serious cyber-attacks and wars are taking place in the world. While most of these attacks are carried out illegally by individuals, they can also be carried out publicly when necessary. The state truly has a memory. We are getting stronger every day in terms of security. As an institution, I have never experienced any restrictions while reporting. I can work in different agencies and institutions in our country, but I will not work in any institution connected with abroad. Because there is no impartiality, everyone has a side, but being right is important. My side is my state, my country, and my nation. One must be careful when doing police reporting. Information is not obtained from terrorists or terrorist organizations. Information is obtained from state-affiliated authorities; from the ministry, the courthouse, and the police. We need to do crime-fighting journalism, not crime-inciting journalism."