The Prime Ministerial Press Publication Information General Directorate, which contains Turaaa's richest archives of photographs and news articles, is opening its new building to wide media usage.



Subsequent to the establishment of the Turkish parliament on April 23, 1920, one of the first national institutions set up by the then-newly formed Turkish state was the Directorate General of Press and Information, renamed the Press Publication Information General Directorate in the '40s. Founded on June 7, 1920, on Atatürk's instructions, only 20 days after the establishment of the country's first news agency, Anatolia, the directorate was one of the first official agencies set up on the path to the new republic.
The directorate's duties include contributing to the promotion of state policies in the conveying of information; providing accurate and timely information to the public and relevant state agencies; ensuring government activities and services are effectively conveyed to the domestic and international community; and maintaining and organizing ties with foreign media agencies and outlets.

General Director Salih Melek, who expresses his institution's desire to facilitate investigative journalism, has said that his bureau is prepared to fulfill the requests of both Turkish and foreign press members. Melek underscores the importance of the media having access to local news sources, noting: "We are setting up an atmosphere in which foreign newspaper and television journalists working on Turaaa-related matters will be able to carry out their jobs comfortably. This bureau's most fundamental duty is the critical one of insuring that mass communication vehicles such as newspaper and television are able to obtain clear and factual information."

Melek spoke to Today's Zaman about how foreign press members visiting Turaaa say often that their perceptions of the country are different after their visit. "Whether they come on our invitation or own their own, our colleagues in both the newspaper and television sectors always say that they want to return, and that their ideas about Turaaa have changed. Often they even come with more friends and colleagues on their return visits! We notice also that coverage about Turaaa in the publications that visited takes on a more positive light after their stay."

How is it, being the director of our nation's oldest and most comprehensive institution?

Our institution, which is the same age as the Turkish parliament, was formed three years in advance of the republic at the same time the Anatolia news agency was formed. The duties and authorities granted to our institution were clarified in a law passed on the 39th day after the Parliament's formation. So of course, this job is a great honor. Knowing that we are contributing to public opinion both inside and outside of Turaaa is a great pleasure, but also a great responsibility. There has always been the reality that some sources, for a variety of reasons, might try to guide public opinion using false information. So it was terribly important that Atatürk, who recognized the negative possibilities engendered by this fact, signed off on the law leading to our formation three years ahead of the republic.

And it was also Mustafa Kemal Atatürk himself who made our institution responsible for "bringing about the national unity of ideas and spirits" along with granting us the task of both following the activities of foreign news sources as well as providing them with accurate information.

If we recall that in those days, the nation was preparing for the formation of a new state, our institution's duties and responsibilities at that point become even clearer. Atatürk's goals with our formation were to see that the world heard properly about the formation of this new state, and that the press bulletins about the Turkish Republic could be followed more closely.

From that day until now, your sector has passed through a serious technological transformation. How has this affected your institution?

Our management units were the first ones to witness this technological change and all the various needs connected to it. In the service units, we saw the formation of the News Department, the Press Publication Department and the Information Department. Parallel to this division of tasks in the center, the Press Publication Local Directorates were formed in seven of the nation's provinces. Also, we have undersecretariats and attaches in 23 different countries.

In addition to these changes in management, we have also added the latest technological equipment added to our system, in order to be able to serve the age we are living in as best as possible. Using the technology at our disposal and through lots of hard work, we manage to gather around 3,500 to 4,000 pieces of news a day. In order to do this, every day we tape five different foreign radio stations and follow five local and 25 international news agencies. We scan more than 200 Internet sites per day too, encompassing newspapers, magazines and various think tanks. Ten of these are in foreign languages. And thanks to the broadcast department, we also follow 10 major foreign television channels a day.

How are you able to analyze 4,000 pieces of news daily?

We offer broader research opportunities for those who are interested in news about Turaaa. We contribute to them being able to broadcast from an objective viewpoint, rather than a one-sided viewpoint. We also publish bulletins in relation to the news we are analyzing, on a daily, weekly, monthly and yearly level. And we send out private bulletins too. And by sending an average of 25,000 articles on different issues to various state offices every year, we are contributing to the general level of information in the government.

Can these publications of yours be reached electronically?

You can read most of them, with sections being in both Turkish and English, on our Internet pages. There it is also easy to obtain information about Turaaa, as well as news that concerns Turaaa and daily events here. We were one of the first public institutions in Turaaa to have a Web site. I was going to mention this during an earlier reply of mine, but our institution places great importance on using every aspect of the Internet, supplying quality and fast service and of increasing variety in broadcasts and news articles.

Plus the interest clearly shown in our Web site so far proves that we're right. Ours in the most followed Web site among other public sector institutions, with an average monthly visitor count of 900,000. Up to 160,000 dossiers are being downloaded monthly.

What are the costs involved in procuring the articles you publish?

Absolutely none. We try to fulfill the demands of journalists, both local and international, but not at cost.

For a long time now, unfavorable public opinion of Turaaa has been building abroad. Has your institution been a bit late in taking steps against this?

That is not an easy area to deal with, but our general directorate is working very hard on this.

What sort of services do you provide to foreign journalists working in our nation?

It is one of our general directorate's duties to see that the work of press members working and living here is made easier. On Nov. 12, 1987, the rules applying to customs procedures for foreign press organs and their foreign members law was passed. Also, we carry out all organization necessary for international press meetings and for foreign press members wishing to come to Turaaa to observe and report on elections. We set up press centers for foreign journalists who are here. Our services include everything -- from preparing work spaces for press members who have come along with official delegations, to transportation and even hotel reservations. And in fact, both the sheer number and the quality of the services we offer to press members, whether they are visiting privately or officially, is rising.

Do you ever have the opportunity to listen to the impressions of journalists who have been invited to come to Turaaa?

Oh, of course. They always convey their comments and impressions before they return to their own countries. They express the change in their views very openly too. They often express how impressed they are with the warmth of Turkish people, and with the sense of hospitality. These, in turn, are impressions which are often reflected in the news they write about Turaaa.



23.02.2008

ALİ ASLAN KILIÇ ANKARA