Publishing in Izmir: 1950-1980

We are living in the information age. The invention of paper, writing and printing press, which led tö carry out the ideas of mankind to time and place, has also made humanity to live in the information age, The means of information have changed through time and place. In the first age, the means to transfer information were papyrus, clay and tablets, whereas in the later times paper and printing press, and today the electronic means have substituted them. The entry of first Turkish printing press to the State of Ottoman Empire was 287 years later of the invention of printing press. Printing press in Izmir, as in other cities* was brought by the minorities and remained under their monopoly for a long time. The first Turkishrowned printing press was state-owned printing press. Private printing press increased aftermath. The First World War and the occupation of Izmir aftermath have effected the printing and publishing world in Izmir negatively and resulted with the closure of many printing offices. With the Alphabet Revolution; the printing and publishing world had entered to a faltering period. This period was overcomed by the support of state within a short time and an important increase was seen in the number of printing and publishing. 1950s, the years of transformation from the single party rule to a multi-party system, were hopeful years for printing and publishing world. But; the expectations were not met and the years of pressures and prohibitions had negative effects on publishing. Printing and publishing world, which faced three military interventions throughout the history Of the Republic, was, of course, negatively effected. The only exception is the military intervention of May 27, 1960; which resulted with 1961 Constitution that established a wide freedom on human rights and duties. Within this period; generally in Turkey and also in Izmir, there was a considerable increase in the nuniber of publishing. But; with 1971 Memorandum, continuing military intervention of September 12, 1980 and 1982 Constitution; publishing had a constant decrease. In spite of all these events; the city of Izmir had its place after Istanbul and Ankara as an important publishing center within the printing and publishing world in Turkey.