A political journalist in Turkey: Mümtaz Faik Fenik

Mümtaz Faik Fenik who borned in Istanbul in 1905, chose journalism as a profession, even though he graduated from Darülfünun Faculty of Law. He worked in many different newspapers during his Bâbıâli adventure, which started at the age of seventeen. During his journalism that lasted more than half a century, he witnessed important events and processes taking place in Turkey and the world. The proclamation of the Republic, the Atatürk period, the Second World War, the transition to multi-party life, the Democratic Party government, the 27 May Military Coup and the 12 March Memorandum are among these. In 1937, during Ataturk's lifetime, he was appointed editor-in-chief of Ulus newspaper, the publication organ of the CHP. He had to leave Ulus newspaper during the period when Turkey transitioned to multi-party life. He resigned from CHP and took his place in DP. Before the 1950 elections, he published Zafer newspaper, the publication organ of DP, and became its editor-in-chief. Due to his harsh opposition against the government in Vatan and Zafer newspapers, he was angered by his rivals and was arrested and imprisoned before the 1950 elections. He was released from prison after winning the 1950 elections after being nominated as a parliamentary candidate from Ankara by the DP. During the DP government, Fenik served as Ankara Member of Parliament until 1957, and on the other hand, he was the head of Zafer newspaper until 1955. Because he was a member of parliament and his command of French, he was close to President Bayar and Prime Minister Menderes, especially during their foreign travels. When he lost the 1957 elections in Ankara, he accepted the editorship of Havadis newspaper. He was detained after the Military Coup of May 27, 1960. He was released after spending some time in Yassıada and Balmumcu prisons. He spent the tense atmosphere of the coup by taking care of mosaic art at home. He resumed journalism, after taking a compulsory break, at Son Havadis newspaper at the end of 1961. Fenik supported the Justice Party and Süleyman Demirel, the continuation of the DP, in this new process. His position as editor-in-chief at Son Havadis continued until his death in 1974.