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Check FAQAbout Elif
ELIF AKGUL is a journalist based in İstanbul, Turkey.
Portfolio
Leadership in the Newsroom: Giving Feedback
The article discusses the importance of providing effective feedback in a newsroom setting, emphasizing the need for feedback to be balanced, identifiable, and action-oriented. It outlines eight practical steps for giving feedback, including clarifying the purpose, creating a suitable environment, avoiding clichés, and maintaining objectivity. The article also highlights the significance of asking questions, seeking feedback, and referencing a higher authority when necessary. The overall aim is to enhance relationships and improve performance by integrating these principles into daily practice.
5 Recommendations for Journalists Reporting on Coronavirus
The article provides five key recommendations for journalists reporting on COVID-19, emphasizing the importance of using expert health journalists, consulting specialists in relevant fields, avoiding panic-inducing language, verifying information from multiple sources, and steering clear of racist or discriminatory language. It highlights the need for accurate and responsible reporting to ensure public health information is conveyed effectively, drawing on insights from various health organizations and experts.
Turkey: Major Debate Over Women Removing Their Headscarves
The article discusses the significant debate in Turkey over women choosing to remove their headscarves, highlighting the stories of women like Büsra Cebeci and Gülsüm Postaci who have publicly shared their decisions. The movement has sparked varied reactions from both conservative and secular sides, with some viewing it as liberation and others as betrayal. The headscarf remains a potent symbol in Turkish politics, reflecting the ongoing tension between political Islam and secularism. Historical context is provided, including the headscarf bans post-1980 military coup and the subsequent policy changes under the AKP government.
Elif Akgül on the Turkish “virtual patrol squads” going after Kurdish social media users
The Turkish government has intensified its control over social media following the Gezi Park protests and the failed coup attempt in 2016, particularly targeting Kurdish users. With Kurdish media largely shut down, social media remains a critical outlet for Kurdish journalists and citizens. Lawyer Özcan Kılıç highlights the double standards and legal challenges faced by Kurdish journalists, who are often charged with making 'terrorist propaganda.' The government's virtual patrol squads monitor social media, leading to the arrest of hundreds for posts about sensitive topics like the Afrin invasion. Kılıç warns of an impending crackdown on social media posts from the past five years, especially those related to protests against Islamic State's attacks on Kobani.
Turkish Women's Movement: 'Women are not on the street to be slaughtered'
In Istanbul, women continue to march on Istiklal Street for women's rights, despite the Turkish government's ban on nearly all government-critical protests since the 2013 Gezi Park protests. These marches, which occur on International Women's Day and the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, draw thousands, including conservative women. Participants demand peace and protest against violence and discrimination. Cagla Akdere from the March Committee emphasizes unity among women regardless of political affiliation, while feminist filmmaker Güliz Saglam and sociologist Feryal Saygiligil criticize the government's policies, which they see as reducing women to family members rather than citizens, deepening gender inequality. The protests are implicitly critical of Recep Tayyip Erdogan's AKP government, which is seen as perpetuating a male-dominated political landscape that leads to violence against women.
House arrest lifted: Why Turkey is now releasing US pastor Brunson
A Turkish court ended the long-standing tug-of-war between the Trump administration and Turkey by releasing American pastor Andrew Brunson from house arrest. Brunson had been detained after the coup attempt against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and was accused of having ties to the Kurdish PKK and the Gülen movement. The U.S. imposed sanctions on Turkey and doubled tariffs on steel and aluminum imports during the Turkish lira's free fall, which may have contributed to Turkey's decision to release Brunson. The release comes amid a new high-profile criminal case involving the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, which has strained Saudi-Turkish and Saudi-American relations. The Turkish government has been sharing information with the U.S. to influence public opinion against Saudi Arabia. Brunson's release is seen as a move by Turkey to improve its image in the U.S.
What the Khashoggi case means for Erdogan
The disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul has created a dilemma for both Turkey and Saudi Arabia, with initial harsh tones from Turkish officials, including President Erdogan, softening over time. Despite Turkish officials leaking details to the press, suggesting Khashoggi was murdered, Turkey is also seeking to manage its relationship with Saudi Arabia, evidenced by the establishment of a joint working group to investigate the case. The incident highlights broader regional tensions, with Turkey and Saudi Arabia diverging on issues such as support for different factions in Syria, relations with Qatar, and the Muslim Brotherhood. The economic and strategic interests between the two countries, however, necessitate a careful balancing act, as Turkey cannot afford to alienate Saudi Arabia and its allies due to economic and energy considerations.
Police attack at the st of May protests, 01/05/2015
Police attact at the Gezi protests, Istanbul, 2013
From the Preface
The preface of a book by Serdar Korucu discusses the violent events that targeted Greek citizens in Turkey, particularly focusing on the destruction of property and the sexual violence against women. The narrative recounts how government officials promised to repair the physical damages to homes, workplaces, and churches, but the emotional and psychological scars, especially from sexual assaults, were beyond repair. The preface includes a poignant story of a woman whose daughter was raped, highlighting the despair of the Greek community. It also references historical figures and literature that reflect the deep-seated cultural and nationalistic tensions between Turks and Greeks, including a quote from Sakallı Nurettin Paşa that derogatorily targets Greek women and a passage from Attila İlhan's work that symbolizes the conquest over Greece. The preface ends with a quote from İsmet İnönü emphasizing the importance of acknowledging the truth of these events, no matter how painful.
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