The Resistance in Gezi Park Creates its own Media
whatishappeninginistanbul.com and istanbuldaneoluyor.com web-sites are published to provide updated and confirmed news about the protests and resistance that started last week in Istanbul and other cities. The web-sites compile texts, photos and videos and also give access to featured content from Facebook and Twitter about the resistance.
The mainstream media in Turkey – a country that has been mentioned as “the biggest prison for journalists” in the 2012 report of Journalists without Borders – turn a blind eye to the resistance that has spread from Istanbul to many other cities in and outside Turkey. The mainstream media have supported auto-censorship as a principle with regards to many significant issues, as it does now, and it is certain that this attitude is no longer acceptable. The social media has been playing a big role in terms of filling the void, and has become the platform of citizen journalism.
The mainstream media seem determined to either manipulating the fact that the protests have been resolutely continuing or distorting the facts in their reports. And, it has become even more difficult to access accurate information due to the information pollution, as unconfirmed information is promptly shared on the social media. At this point, whatishappeninginistanbul.com and istanbuldaneoluyor.com are published as platforms for sharing the confirmed information gathered from citizen journalists with the principle of proclaiming the fact that the resistance still continues with determination.
These platforms aim at sustaining the power of the protests that started on the 28th of May and become widespread all over Istanbul and Turkey without having involved in any political organisation. By preserving and publicising the texts and visuals with location and time confirmation, it aims to flag persons, brands and businesses that support those protests. These platforms also intend to sustain the spirit of this great resistance by keeping the memories of the protests, especially in a country where the current political agenda shifts in a flash.
The news about whatishappeninginistanbul.com via Independent Communication Network (Bianet)
What is happening in İstanbul?, 3 juin 2013 – 17h09