The view of the local press during the transition to multi-party period, Yeni Asir newspaper sample (1949-1951)

The purpose of the study is to determine the developments during the transition period from the 27-year single-party regime to multi-party era, social changes and the reflection of democratization movements to the local press; on the other hand, revealing the role of local media in this process is also intended. This research has been based on the elections in 1950, emphasizing the depression period during the one party regime and covering the transition to multi-party period. Examining the social and political structure of Turkey, in the expanded scope of this research, the prints of Yeni Asır Newspaper between 1949 and 1951 has been reviewed. In addition, examining the reflection of the structure of domestic politics in Turkey to press, the method of fact-finding has been applied.The process, starting with the establishment of the Democratic Party (DP) in 1946 and with DP regime after 1950 elections, is a major milestone in terms of social history.This wasnot only a very important period of political development, but,besides taking important stepsin the name of democracy during the transition to multi-party regime, new and comprehensive applications of a new political power led to important changes in the whole country also.After the proclamation of the Republic, the government had the power to restrict the press freedom and to close any newspaper. The political pressure on the press was even more pronounced during the Presidency of Ismet Inonu, amidst one-party regime. National and Local Press in Turkey, given the crisis during this repressive regime, supported multi-party system by embracing a new party. Developing and growing with the support of the press, the Democratic Party gained "the triumph of democracy? in the 1950?s elections with its opposition to power and thesupport of both Local and National Press. The investigationof the editions of Yeni Asır Newspaper between 1949 and 1951 shows that press media played an important role in creating the ground for democratization process, in supporting the transition to multi-party period and in preparing the public to democratic system.KEY WORDS1-Democratization2-Democratic Party3-Press4-Yeni Asır5-Adnan Menderes