Prof. Dr. Nazife Güngör: 'A Fool Throws a Stone into a Well…'

Üsküdar University Rector Prof. Dr. Nazife Güngör, in her weekly articles for 12 Punto, this week addressed the issue of ethics in the journalism profession. Here is Güngör's article:

I was very surprised to find myself the subject of an article on the education page of a newspaper I closely follow and am certain values professional ethics. It featured a photograph taken years ago, sourced from the internet, alongside statements not attributed to me and claims entirely unrelated to the truth. 

I was shocked to see the news, but at the same time, I started to laugh to myself, thinking, "well, this too is possible." I called the newspaper's editor-in-chief and quipped, "at least they shouldn't have used an overweight photo of me." After all, I've spent years trying to lose weight, and our press doesn't seem to care. That's just a joke, of course. I expressed my surprise at the situation and my belief that it shouldn't have gone that far. Ultimately, I am also closely connected to the journalism profession. I received a significant journalism education in my time and have been training journalists for years. To be honest, I was a little annoyed, wondering what we teach in classrooms and what the journalists we train end up doing. 

Anyway, the situation was resolved amicably. I don't think the opposite would have been possible. But in the meantime, the news garnered so much interest that many internet pages did not hesitate to publish it instantly. As if the country had no other agenda, our reality-detached story created significant excitement in the media, with our journalists racing not to miss this "important" news. Yet, none of them even bothered to contact the source to verify the information's accuracy. 

I try to comprehend the state of mind our media is currently in, but at the same time, I cannot help but reflect. Journalism is a profession demanding great responsibility. A journalist's raw material is information. To perform effectively, one must first access correct, essential, valid, and useful information. It's akin to the difference between synthetic and organic foods. While consuming synthetic food might initially please our palate, the chemicals we introduce into our bodies could lead to serious illnesses, or even poisoning, over time. The dissemination of true and untrue news or information operates similarly. A story with a striking headline might initially capture a reader's interest and generate public excitement, but once it's revealed not to reflect the truth, the outcome can be frustrating for the news provider. 

Journalism is a challenging profession that demands significant responsibility. Especially in today's information age, practicing journalism has become considerably more difficult. There are numerous channels for information flow. Particularly through social media, there's a constant and multifaceted stream of information from the public to journalists. If managed effectively and appropriately, this situation can offer immense opportunities for journalism. However, if not managed correctly and carefully, it can lead to major problems. Consequently, the present era offers both important opportunities and serious risks for journalism. It is precisely at this juncture that journalists must be far more careful, questioning, and investigative than before. In a period where information sources have become so convoluted, a journalist's job is by no means 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 times when feelings like panic, excitement, and anxiety are on the rise, reason and logic can remain somewhat passive. From the perspective of crowd and social psychology, such situations are normal. However, it is precisely in these circumstances that a journalist must exercise extreme caution. While observing societal events, a journalist is also obligated to transmit accurate information to the public. Moreover, this must be done with composure. Not only journalists, but everyone involved in the production and dissemination of information, must not abandon common sense in such situations. 
Acting with common sense and remaining within the bounds of reason does not imply that a journalist or, more broadly, an intellectual, should distance themselves from social processes. However, everyone involved in thought and information work, especially during periods and situations where social dynamism gains momentum, must be far more composed, sensible, and rational than usual. In this regard, the responsibility of the journalist, who is constantly intertwined with society, is significantly more serious and crucial.

12PUNTO