Media Studies: Turkey--Media Literacy: Why it is So Critical to Democratisation Process in Turkey

Media Studies is an emerging discipline in Asia and is of enormous significance at a time when many of the counties in this region which is witnessing struggles, both within the state apparatus and without to establish enduring democratic institutions and processes. We begin a section on Media Studies that will explore new themes in the area. This article, the first of a series of commentaries by two media scholars from Galatasaray University, is on the critical relevance of encouraging media literacy in Turkey. ‘Media literacy’ as an almost unknown topic in Turkish society and in media studies. Since critical thinking and self-expression are essential skills for democracy, all citizens need to acquire the ability to decode, analyse and produce media messages. To this end, through a series of articles are discussed the changes in the Turkish media under globalization in the post-1980s--- the change of media ownership structure and most striking ethical issues in Turkish media. The incomplete democratisation process in society and its reflection on the media will be evaluated.