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78ARMENIAN, GREEK, AND JEWISH PRINTED AND ONLINE MEDIA IN TURKEY
Gevorg Petrosyan
For decades the Armenian, Greek, and Jewish media in Turkey continued to publish periodicals. They currently face problems due to the lack of funds and difficulty to sell printed media in the Internet ere. Decreasing number of Armenian, Greek, and Jewish communities and those who can read in their mother tongue is another problem. Media transformations occurring in the world impact also the media of Turkey’s ethnic and religious minorities. These media now pay more attention to online publications or at least boost their presence in the internet.
Armenian and Armenian-language media
Over the years not only print-runs of ethnic minority periodicals has decreased, but also their number has declined. For comparison, in the beginning of the 20th century in the Ottoman Empire (including outside Constantinople) more than 15 Armenian periodicals were published, whereas currently there only two dailies in Armenian language [1]:
In Turkey currently Jamanak and Nor Marmara dailies are published (both in Western Armenian language), the Agos weekly (in Western Armenian and Turkish), as well as a number of magazines such as Paros, buys, Shoghakat, Lraber, etc. The websites of printed Armenian media are launched. The official
' RoA National Academy of Science PhD student, Turkish Studies researcher.
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website of Istanbul-published Agos is especially noteworthy as it represents an information-rich and up-to-date news site. Recently Jamanak daily relaunched its updated website.
Apart from Armenian media, the TRT Turkish government television and radio company’s TRT World project, which reports news mainly on Turkey in a few dozen languages, also has an Armenian (Eastern Armenian language) version. The Eastern Armenian language news site1 version of TRT World mostly contains translated content of the Turkish version, but it has not been very active. Its Armenian content has many grammatical, orthographical and stylistic mistakes, and displays obvious differences in lingual mentality.
Agos weekly and website
Agos weekly is published since April 1996. The periodical was established by Hrant Dink, Luiz Bakar, Harutioun Sheshetian and Anna Turay, and belongs Agos Publishing company led by Rahil Dink. It is a 24-page periodical published weekly. Out of these pages of Agos printed version 20 are in Turkish and 4 pages are in Western Armenian.
Hrant Dink was the chief editor of Agos until his assassination in 2007. After that editors-in-chief were Etyen Mahchupyan2 in 2007-2010, Rober Koptash in 2010-2015 and from January 2015 to date Yetvart Danzikyan3, and Pakrat Es-tukyan as Armenian Language Editor. The editorial board of the periodical is nased in Istanbul. Print-run of Agos comprises 4,000-5,000 copies weekly4.
1 TRT World-Հայերեև, official website, http://www.trt.net.tr/armenian.
2 He was also a chief counsellor to Turkish Prime Minister in 2014-2015.
3 Rober Kopta§'tan veda, Agos'un yeni yayin yonetmeni Yetvart Danzikyan, DemokratHaber, http://www.demokrathaber.net/medya/rober-koptastan-veda-agosun-yeni-yayin-yonetmeni-yetvart-danzikyan-h44077.html.
4 Azinliklarin sesi kisik, Radikal, http://www.radikal.com.tr/turkiye/azinliklarin_sesi_kisik-1056953.
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Agos focuses not only on problems of the Armenian community, but also Turkey’s internal and external matters and wide range of topics, such as politics, society, culture. minority issues, human rights and more.
The online version of Agos (http://agos.com.tr) is quite active1. It contains both its own new, articles, photo reports and materials from the printed version. Initially the content of Agos online was accessible only to paying subscribers, but in the recent years the news website is open to all readers. Unlike the printed version, Agos online offers information not only in Turkish and Armenian, but also in English. However, the main section if in Turkish. Agos website is often attacked by Turkish hackers2, and targeted by nationalistic circles. Article contributors to Agos include a renowned Turkish historian Baskin Oran, as well as Vahagn Keshishian, Pakrat Estukyan, Yetvart Danzikyan, Bercuhi Ber-beryan and others3.
Marmara /Nor Marmara daily and onlme
Marmara is among the oldest and most reputable Armenian periodicals published in Turkey. In 1967 it was renamed NorMarmara\2, էջ 82]. The newspaper represents itself as a “political-public daily.” It was established by Armenian journalist Souren Shamlian and the first issue was published on August 31, 19404. The newspaper is published six times a week (no Sunday issues). Rober Haddeciyan (also known in Turkey as Robert Haddeler)5, is the editor-in-chief of the newspaper since 1967. The editorial board is based in Istanbul. Nor Mar-
1 Agos official website, http://www.agos.com.tr/.
2 Թուրք հաքերները հարձակվել են «Ակօսի» կայքի վրա, Թուրագիտակաև պորտալ, http://allturkey.am/10759.
3 Yazarlar, Agos, http://www.agos.com.tr/tr/yazarlar?page=1.
4 Նոր Մարմարա, Մեր մասին, http://www.normarmara.com/mermasin.html.
5 Ermeni gazeteleri, ESI, http://www.esiweb.org/index.php?lang=tr&id=322&debate_ID=4&slide_ID=7.
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mara is published in Western Armenian language, although Friday issues sometimes contain also articles in Turkish. With a print-run of 1,000-1,500, the newspaper has 4 pages. Its online version1 (http://www.normarmara.com), which currently is only in Western Armenian language, has been more active in the recent months. It contains mostly materials from the printed version. For a long time the online version simply displayed the copy of the newspaper’s issue of a particular day, but in 2015 the website has been upgraded, with added archive, separate section on the Editor-in-Chief Haddeciyan’s boks, etc. The updated newsfeed contains news not only about Armenians of Turkey, but also information on Turkey’s internal and foreign policy developments.
Jamanak daily and website
Jamanakis the oldest Armenian language periodical in Turkey, as well as the oldest newspaper in Turkey published continuously, without any interruptions2. The newspaper represents itself a “political popular daily”.
Jamanakis published only in Western Armenian language and has four pages. It was founded in 1908 by Misak and Sarkis Kochunyan brothers. Since it foundation Kochunyan family members served as editors-in-chief of this Armenian newspaper. Ara Kochunyan has taken the office in 1992 and since then is the editor-in-chief of the daily. In 1920-30s the newspaper was published combined with another paper under the name Joghovurti Dzayn Jamanak, and later also as Jamanak Turkia [2, էջ 82]. The editorial office is located in Istanbul and the print-run is 1,500-2,000 copies3. Unfortunately, the print-run of Jamanak as
1 Nor Marmara official website, http://www.normarmara.com/marmara.htm.
2 Boyle olur Jamanak Gazetesi’nin kutlamasi!, T24, 2013,
http://t24.com.tr/yazarlar/raffi-a-hermonn/boyle-olur-jamanak-gazetesinin-kutlamasi, 6790.
3 Teknolojiye direnen azinliklar, Aksiyon, 1995, http://www.aksiyon.com.tr/aksiyon/haber-1166-34-teknolojiye-direnen-azinliklar.html.
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well as other Armenian periodical published in Turkey has been decreasing year to year, which is due to diminishing numbers of Armenian readership and growing use of internet.
Jamanakfocuses on problems and everyday life of the Armenian community in Turkey and generally the whole Armeniancy, and also covers other topics, including political and social.
Many Armenian intellectuals have been contributors to the paper, including Daniel Varujan, Krikor Zohrab, Vahan Tekeyan, Ruben Sevak, Zabel Ye-sayan, Hovhannes Tumanyan, Yervant Odian, among others.
After certain time of inactivity on the internet, Jamanakrelaunched its website (http://www.jamanak.com/) in early 2015, with support from Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation1. The website is in Western Armenian language only. The website contains news, analytical articles, interviews, editorials regarding the life of Armenians in Turkey, about Armenia and all Armeniany, as well as an archive of the issues published from 2006 to 20092.
Armenian Magazines Published in turkey
A number of Armenian magazines are published in Turkey that are owned by the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople or are privately held. The magazines of the Armenian community of Turkey are established by relatively recently and are privately owned. Paros monthly is published in Turkish language since 2011 in Istanbul. It mostly covers public life and stays away from political topics. Its website3 is also only in Turkish language.
1 Ժամանակ, official website: http://www.jamanak.com/.
2 Ժամանակ, արխիվ, http://www.jamanak.com/arxivpdf?field_date_value[value]=&page=42.
3 Paros, official website: http://www.paros.com.tr/
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Luys magazine is published since 2013 in Istanbul, in Turkish language. Mostly covers public life, culture, with no political references. Website of Luys has been launched, again in Turkish language only1.
The Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople published the Shoghakat monthly, which covers spiritual life, historical and cultural topics2. In addition, the Patriarchate has an official magazine, Lraper.
The Surp Pirgi^ Armenian Hospital Foundation has its own monthly magazine3, which has been published in different formats since the early 20th century4. Also, Jbidmagazine is published for children5.
Greek and Jewish Periodicals
There are Greek and Jewish printed periodicals published in Turkey, which also have problems related to funding, diminishing numbers of community members and development of internet6. However, under the circumstances Jews take steps to boost the online version of their community newspaper.
The Apoyevmatini (meaning “daytime” in Greek) is published in Istanbul in Greek language by the Greek community. Since recently it is a weekly. It was established in 1925. The paper mostly covers matters of the Greek community. In 1960s its print-run was 35,000 copies, but now it is down to 500-600 due to significant decrease in numbers of the Greeks in Turkey and advent of the new technologies in the 21st century. Only two people work for the newspaper and
1 Luys, official website: http://www.luys.com.tr/hakkimizda
2 Թուրքիայի հայկական պատրիարքարան, «Շողակաթ», http://www.turkiyeermenileripatrikligi.org/site/sogagat-dergisi-basin/
3 Սուրբ Փրկիչ հայկական հիվանդանոցի հիմնադրամի ամսագիր, http://www.surppirgic.org/.
4 Turkiye Ermenileri Patrikligi, Surp Pirgi5 Hastane Dergisi,
http://www.turkiyeermenileripatrikligi.org/site/surp-pirgic-hastane-dergisi-basin/.
5 Ibid.
6 Azinlik gazetelerinin varolu§ mucadelesi, DW, 2011,
http://www.dw.de/az%C4%B1nl%C4%B1k-gazetelerinin-varolu%C5%9F-m%C3%BCcadelesi/a-15254238.
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they do not even have an office1. This Greek periodical does not have a website either, due to difficult financing problems.
Greeks in Turkey also publish the Iho daily newspaper (meaning “echo” in Greek), which was established in 1977. Since 2012 a radio station was launched, called iho Tis Polis (“Echo of the City”). It is broadcasted as a supplement to the newspaper and is accessible only through internet. The paper contains news about Greeks of Turkey, as well as local and international developments. Due to financial problems the newspaper had to decrease the number of its pages down to four. It does have a website in Greek language2. The daily newsfeed along with electronic versions of the printed issues are posted on the website. As already mentioned, the radio broadcast in Greek language can be listened from this website.
The Jews publish Shalom newspaper (§alom in Turkish), which was established in 1947. For many years it was published in Latin Hebrew alphabet, and now it also has a page in Turkish language. Shalom i s published weekly, as a political and cultural periodical. It has an active website3, mostly in Turkish language. With gradual decrease of the printed paper sales, more attention is focused on the online version.
Summary
The continuously shrinking numbers of ethnic minority population in Turkey adversely impacts the community printed media that have been published for decades. Their print-runs tend to decline. Under difficult financial situation
1 Ստամբուլում լույս տեսնող հունական թերթի գրասենյակը փակվել է, Թուրքագիտական պորտալ, 2014, http://allturkey.am/10658.
2 Iho, http://www.ihotispolis.com/.
3 §alom, official website: http://www.salom.com.tr/.
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these media important for the communities continue to survive mostly thanks to the enthusiasm of their staffs. Another negative trend is observed as well: the media of minorities increasingly prefer Turkish language in their publications, which poses a threat to preserving their mother tongues and identities. For example, the main language of both printed and online versions of Agos is Turkish. The Armenian magazines established in the recent years are also in Turkish.
A significant part of media has correctly figured the paradigm shift of modern times and attempts to be more active in the internet. Agoswas the first among the Armenian media that paid serious attention to the internet, due to which the website of this periodical currently operates actively. After certain period of inaction, both Jamanak and Nor Marmara relaunched their websites, which are now more technically advanced and have improved updating. Other transformations also indicate that the periodicals of minorities in Turkey make attempts to be more active in the internet, because they understand its significance. Given that Jamanak and Nor Marmara focus on new reporting in Armenian, their internet activity is important for the pressing issue of preserving Ar-meniancy. The Greek Iho also uses the possibilities of internet to carry out radio broadcasting.
Thus, the mass media of Turkey’s ethnic minorities continue their important work, often time having to face survival issues. In addition to funding problems, seros challenges are posed by diminishing readership in mother tongue and generally the decreasing numbers of ethnic minority populations. As the time has shown, the future of ethnic minority mass media is largely related to the internet, where they continue making attempts to be more active.
September 2015
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References and literature
1. Խաոատյան Ա, Արևմտահայ մամուլի սկզբնավորման և զարգացման պատմությունից (1832- 1914 թթ., Պատմա-բանասիրական հանդես, 1995, № 2:
2. Մելբոնյան Ռ, Ակնարկ Ստամբուլի հայ համայնքի պատմության, Երևան, 2010:
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