The awards found their owners in the Barış Selçuk Journalism Competition, organized by the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality for the 25th time this year.
In order to keep alive the memory of journalist Barış Selçuk, who lost his life in a traffic accident in 1994 while on his way to work for the news, and to encourage young journalists, the awards were given to their winners in the Barış Selçuk Journalism Competition, which was organized by the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality for the 25th time this year.
The Selection Committee of the Barış Selçuk Journalism Competition convened with the participation of Press Council President Pınar Türenç, İzmir Journalists Association President Dilek Gappi, Turkish Journalists Association Vice President and NOW TV Editor-in-Chief Doğan Şentürk, Turkish Photojournalists Association Vice President and Aegean Region Representative Şükrü Akın, NTV İzmir Representative Merih Ak, journalist-author Faruk Bildirici, Deniz Zeyrek, Ali Ekber Yıldırım, Mehmet Karabel, Journalist Göksel Göksu and E.Ü. Faculty of Communication Press Broadcasting Techniques Department Head Assoc. Prof. Dr. Çiğdem Dirik. The jury was chaired by Press Council President Pınar Türenç at the evaluation meeting where the first place awards in the categories of National News, İzmir City News, İzmir City TV, and News Photography, and the Hande Mumcu Encouragement Awards were determined.
Journalism is a challenge
Speaking at the opening of the meeting, Press Council President Pınar Türenç stated that the Barış Selçuk Journalism Awards are very important in terms of supporting press members who try to stand on their feet with dignity despite all kinds of difficulties. Türenç thanked the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality for hosting this competition and said, “We are also very happy that our colleagues showed great interest in the competition. They are all valuable works. I congratulate each and every one of them, whether they receive an award or not. Being a journalist in such times when freedoms are restricted is a challenge. In this process where journalism is being destroyed and real journalists have difficulty doing their jobs with the love of reporting, I congratulate all my colleagues who convey the truth to the public despite all obstacles.”
Media is getting stronger despite all resistance
Dilek Gappi, the President of the Izmir Journalists Association, also stated that there are 9 daily newspapers, 52 websites, 4 communication faculties and effective representatives of national channels in Izmir. Gappi, who stated that when the Turkish press is examined, they describe Izmir as a fortress, said, “The staff has also expanded. Employment has increased by 40 percent in the last year. We have formed a beautiful collaboration with the contributions of you and the Barış Selçuk Awards. Despite all the resistance and obscurations, the media has been growing and getting stronger in the last few years.”
Following the selection committee meeting, the award-winning works were determined as follows:
“Izmir City News” In the Yenigün Newspaper, Sıla Arabacıoğlu's news "Light leaked into the void" came first. In this category, Yağız Barut won the Hande Mumcu Encouragement Award with his news titled "This is how the phone is answered at İzmir City Hospital: I am transferring you to our customer representative" published in İz Newspaper.
“National News” in the branch Sözcü The news story titled “The murderer who has a 45-year sentence had police protection. Moreover, he escaped from the police when he was caught” by Özgür Cebe from the newspaper was deemed worthy of first place. In this category, the Hande Mumcu Encouragement Award went to Mehmet İnmez with his news story titled “They are selling their babies” published in Cumhuriyet Newspaper.
“Izmir City TV News” In the category, the news item “A sign was hung before the tender date. A sign with a housing image saying “Project Area” was erected on the land put up for sale by the Menemen Municipality before the tender was held” by Fatih Özkılınç and Özgür Şengül from ANKA News Agency was deemed worthy of first place. In this category, the Hande Mumcu Encouragement Award was received by the news item “The first restoration on Quarantine Island after 155 years” by Hakan Gözalan and Sinan Yeniçeri from İhlas News Agency.
“News Photo” In the category, the photo of Mehmet Emin Mengüarslan from Anadolu Agency published in the news titled “Coup to the President” was awarded first place. The Hande Mumcu Encouragement Award was won by Adem Altan from Agence France Press (AFP) with his photo published under the title “Fight in the Turkish Grand National Assembly”.
Who is Baris Selcuk?
Born in Aydın on September 21, 1961, Barış Selçuk completed primary education in Anamur in 1972, secondary education at Eskişehir Devrim Secondary School, and high school at Trabzon High School. He graduated from Ege University Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences in 1978, which he entered in 1983. He did his military service as a Second Lieutenant in the Kırklareli Infantry Regiment between 1984-1986. He worked as an "economy" reporter at Yeni Asır Newspaper in 1986, as a "politics" reporter at Günaydın Newspaper in 1989-1990, and as a "Parliament correspondent" at Hürriyet Newspaper Ankara Bureau in 1991. On August 5, 1994, while she was on her way to watch Tansu Çiller and Murat Karayalçın announce the floor price of hazelnuts in Giresun, she lost her life in a traffic accident along with her reporter friend Hande Mumcu, cameraman Salih Peker and the car driver.
