POLICIES OF TURKISH RADIO TELEVISION CORPORATION (TRT): THE CASE OF THE DIRECTORATE OF DOCUMENTARY PROGRAMS A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES OF MIDDLE EAST TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY BY TÜLÜN SEYHAN CEYLAN IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN MEDIA AND CULTURAL STUDIES MAY 2006 Approval of the Graduate School of Social Sciences __________________________ Prof. Dr. Sencer Ayata Director I certify that this thesis satisfies all the requirements as a thesis for the degree of Master of Science of Media and Cultural Studies. __________________________ Prof. Dr. Raşit Kaya Head of Department This is to certify that we have read this thesis and that in our opinion it is fully adequate, in scope and quality, as a thesis for the degree of Master of Science of Media and Cultural Studies. __________________________ __________________________ Assist. Prof. Dr. Aykan Erdemir Assist. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Gürata Supervisor Co-Supervisor Examining Committee Members Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ayşe Gündüz Hoşgör (METU, SOC)_________________ Assist. Prof. Dr. Aykan Erdemir (METU, SOC)_________________ Assoc. Prof. Dr. Helga Rittersberger-Tılıç (METU, SOC)_________________ Assist. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Gürata _________________ (Gazi University, Radio Television and Cinema) Instructor. Dr. Barış Çakmur (METU,ADM )________________ I hereby declare that all information in this document has been obtained and presented in accordance with academic rules and ethical conduct. I also declare that, as required by these rules and conduct, I have fully cited and referenced all material and results that are not original to this work. Name, Last Name : Tülün Seyhan CEYLAN Signature : iii ABSTRACT POLICIES OF TURKISH RADIO TELEVISION CORPORATION (TRT) : THE CASE OF THE DIRECTORATE OF DOCUMENTARY PROGRAMS Tülün Seyhan Ceylan M. Sc. , Department of Media and Cultural Studies Supervisor: Assist. Prof. Dr. Aykan Erdemir Co-Supervisor: Assist. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Gürata May 2006, 171 pages The objective of this study is to examine historically the policies of the Directorate of Documentary Programs (DDP) of the Turkish Radio Television Corporation (TRT). Since there is very little research about particular sphere of the public service broadcasting in Turkey it is aimed to contribute to this area of study. In the course of the study, historical conditions, structural factors, broadcasting policies, the conditions of public broadcasting of a country, and the role of individuals and the research methods applied in media studies were taken into consideration. Furthermore, governmental, military, lawful, economic, cultural policies, and policies emerging from the institutional mechanisms, and practices of individuals are illustrated regarding the different time periods. iv In this study, documentary research, observation, interview, and internet research were used as data gathering methods. Literature analysis, historical analysis and interpretative analysis were employed as methods of analysis. It is mentioned that the role of individuals in the analysis of media studies is not paid much attention, additionally, especially in Turkey, research conducted about media generally ignores the methods of ethnography, field research and interpretative analysis. In analyzing the policies of DDP, it is asserted that except for the structural effects, individuals/actors have also roles in shaping these policies. Furthermore, to examine the media, particularly television policies, it is maintained that there is a need to carry out analysis at the individual level by the help of conducting field research, applying methods of ethnography, and interpretative analysis in Turkey. Finally, it is claimed that to a large extend DDP have been under the effects of public broadcasting notion of Turkey, and there is a need for improving the institutional policies for the DDP to serve the public interest. Key Words: Turkish Radio Television Corporation, Documentary, Public Broadcasting Policy, Television, Media Ethnography v ÖZ TÜRKİYE RADYO TELEVİZYON KURUMU (TRT) POLİTİKALARI: BELGESEL PROGRAMLAR MÜDÜRLÜĞÜ ÖRNEĞİ Tülün Seyhan Ceylan Yüksek Lisans, Medya ve Kültürel Çalışmalar Programı Tez Yöneticisi: Yrd. Doç. Dr. Aykan Erdemir Ortak Tez Yöneticisi: Yrd. Doç. Dr. Ahmet Gürata Mayıs 2006, 171 sayfa Bu çalışmanın amacı Türkiye Radyo Televizyon Kurumu (TRT)’nun , Belgesel Programlar Müdürlüğü (BPM) politikalarını tarihsel olarak incelemektir. Türkiye’de kamu yayıncılığının özel bir alanıyla ilgili yapılmış çok az sayıda araştırmanın olmasından dolayı, bu alana katkıda bulunmak amaçlanmaktadır. Çalışma boyunca, tarihsel koşullar, yapısal unsurlar, yayıncılık politikaları, ülkenin kamu yayıncılığının koşulları, medya çalışmalarında bireylerin rolü ve kullanılan araştırma yöntemleri göz önünde bulunduruldu. Ayrıca, farklı zaman dilimlerine göre; hükümet politikaları ve askeri, yasal, ekonomik, kültürel politikalarla, kurumsal mekanizmadan ve kişilerin pratiklerinden doğan politikalar da belirtilmiştir. Bu çalışmada veri toplama yöntemleri olarak belgesel araştırma, gözlem, görüşme ve internet araştırmasından faydalanıldı. Analiz yöntemleri olarak da tarihsel, literatür ve yorumlayıcı yöntemler kullanıldı. vi Medya çalışmalarının analizinde, bireylerin rollerinin göz ardı edildiğine çalışmada dikkat çekilmiştir. Özellikle Türkiye’de medya üzerine yapılan araştırmalarda genel olarak etnografik yöntemlerden, alan araştırmasından ve yorumlayıcı analiz yaklaşımlarından faydalanılmamaktadır. Belgesel Programlar Müdürlüğü’nün politikalarını analiz ederken, bu politikaların şekillenmesinde yapısal etkilerin dışında bireylerin/aktörlerin de rollerinin olduğu savlanmıştır. Bunlara ek olarak, Türkiye’de medya, özellikle de televizyon çalışmalarında, alan çalışması yürüterek, etnografik yöntemlerden faydalanarak, yorumlayıcı analize başvurarak birey düzeyinde analiz yapılmasına gerek olduğu ileri sürülmüştür. Son olarak, Belgesel Programlar Müdürlüğü politikalarının büyük oranda Türkiye’deki kamu yayıncılığı anlayışının etkisi altında olduğu ve BPM’nin kamu yararına hizmet edebilmesi için kurumsal politikaların geliştirilmesine ihtiyaç olduğu iddia edilmiştir. Anahtar Kelimeler : Türkiye Radyo Televizyon Kurumu, Belgesel, Kamu Yayıncılığı Politikaları, Televizyon, Medya Etnografi vii To my family viii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my gratitude to Assist. Prof. Dr. Aykan Erdemir and Assist. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Gürata for their guidance and patience throughout the study. At the beginning of the study they expressed that they want to study with me since I want to discover new information. This expression also demonstrated for me their comprehension of life and scientific approach as, Erdemir says, “not to know everything (before)..and to protect this state”. I am also indebted to my jury members Assoc. Prof. Dr. Helga Rittersberger- Tılıç, Instructor. Dr. Barış Çakmur and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ayşe Gündüz Hoşgör. I realized by their comments, findings of this study could be another expansions therefore they also contributed to my further academic work. Additionally, I specially thanks to Ayşe Gündüz Hoşgör for her that she contributed efforts to me all along my academic life and other students. She showed me with her life experience that she is not alienated to her job, and to her being an academician still means to make (wo/man of) the future. I am gratitude to her for holding hours and hours discussions, giving invaluable support in all branches of life, friendship, with the hope of deserving her efforts. I am gratitude to Assoc. Prof. Dr. H. Canan Sümer for her guidance and advices about the ethical stand in writing the field notes. I offer my special gratefulness to Başak Önsal and Süheyla Türkyılmaz who struggled against difficulties with me in all aspects of life and also spent much time to improve this study. They never stopped supporting me ix whenever I needed help; they have been on my side when I want to hear companion’s voice. I am also indebted to Özgür Çetinkaya, Kathrine Bourgeois , Reyda Tulgar, Thomas Balkenhol, Pınar Özcan, Filiz Toprak, Altuğ Yılmaz, Özgür Arun, Çağdaş Gemici, Murat Cem Demir, Erkan Hatipoğlu, Ebru Hatipoğlu, Ajlan Hatipoğlu, Hasan Şahin for their precious support during the hardest times of my study. I would like to thank the staff of TRT, my interviewees for their supports during the fieldwork, comments and contributions throughout the whole study. While I have encountered with the difficulties they always helped me and instead of just saying “I don’t know”, they guided me to direct addresses. I offer my special gratefulness to my dear family members who always been with me, and instead of judging, they choose supported me...To my cousins, ruddy-cheeked sister, mother and father for their lifelong self-sacrifices. x TABLE OF CONTENTS PLAGIARISM……………………………………………………………………...iii ABSTRACT...………………………………………………………………………iv ÖZ…………………………………………………………………………………..vi DEDICATION……………………………………………………………………viii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS……………………………………………………….ix TABLE OF CONTENTS…………………………………………………………..xi LIST OF TABLES………………………………………………………………...xiv LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS……………………………………………………...xv CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………..1 1. 1. Research Methodology and Sources Used………………….8 1. 2. Thesis Outline………………………………………………..17 2. POLICIES OF BROADCASTING AND OF DOCUMENTARY DEPARTMENTS IN PUBLIC BROADCASTING……………………...20 2. 1. Broadcasting Policies………………………………………..20 2. 1. 1. Public Service Broadcasting and Policies of Public Broadcasting Service……………………………………...23