The user as producer in alternative media? The case of the Independent Communication Network (BIA).

Abstract

#nofulltext#This article focuses on the Independent Communication Network (BIA) as an instance of alternative media in Turkey. Throughout the study we define "alternative" media as non-dominant, counter-hegemonic media that prioritizes its distinct relationship with its audience. We report research based on in-depth interviews with the producers of the network's online site "BIANET news" combined with focus group studies with communication students and women activists that are identified as the main audience segments of BIANET news by the newsmakers. By focusing on the agents of both production and reception, this research enables us to examine participation and its form at both ends and to expound the problems of the conditions under which the user/audience can become the producer in Turkey

Protestplätze, Partizipationsräume, Parallelwelten : wissenschaftliche Betrachtung und aktuelle Bewertung von Alternativmedien

“…Dies kann sowohl die organisatorischen Strukturen und Praktiken als auch die individuellen und kollektiven Handlungen und Entscheidungen der Medienschaffenden einschließen (Atkinson, 2017, S. 181). Derartige Untersuchungen können durch Interviews mit Produzentinnen und Redakteuren (Vatikiotis & Milioni, 2019;Burrows, 2018;Kejanlıoğlu et al, 2012;Harcup, 2011), Beobachtungen der Produktionsprozesse (Atton, 2002) oder die Analyse interner Dokumente und Materialien erfolgen. Vergleichende Untersuchungen zur Produktion von Inhalten durch klassische Medien vermögen Aufschluss über Konvergenzen oder Spannungen zwischen beiden Medienarten zu geben.…”

Untitled

“…In his qualitative empirical research with alternative media users in England, Harcup concluded that although there is no consensus on a universal and precise definition of alternative media, this media can play a role in nurturing, motivating and activating a phenomenon that can be defined as active citizenship. In Turkey, too, an empirical study has been carried out on people who are both producers and users of alternative media (Kejanlıoğlu, 2012). This research focuses on the Independent Communication Network (Bianet) as an example of alternative media in Turkey.…”

Journey into Social Activism

“…Past research that has explored the production of alternative media has typically relied on interviews and focus groups, as well as participant observation. Kejanlioğlu, Çoban, Yanikkaya, and Köksalan (2012) and one of my own studies (Atkinson 2008) provide good examples of research based on interviews and focus groups with alternative media producers, whereas Pickard's (2006a;2006b) research is an exemplar of participant observation used to explore processes of production. Kejanlioğlu et al's research does not explore a broad swath of producers, but focuses on the producers within a single organization in Turkey called Independent Communication Network (ICN).…”