Subject in media practice: An analysis in the context of Althusserian philosophy

In the framework of the traditional theory, mass media is accepted as the fourth force. In addition to ensuring communication between masses, it also informs the society through media and the news and also conveys the innovations and the social agenda. While carrying this out, it is said that media is unbiased, independent, forwards accurate and correct news, provides the flow of information and controls and checks the state on behalf of the society. However, as suggested by the critical theory and dialectical thinking, media is not detached from the ownership structure and is used as an ideological tool. With its' contents and products media, ensures the continuation of the status quo, legitimises hegemony, carries out the sovereign ideology and normalises the unequal economic and living conditions that were created by capitalism. False consciousness is created in individuals who were constantly exposed to the these contents, and they are being positioned as viewers/readers thus forming a pacified audience. While imposing what is right and wrong on individuals, it is also shown what the society should think about. Media products attribute certain roles to individuals and position them ideologically through these ascribed roles. This is achieved by calling individuals as subjects. One of the most convenient channels for the Interpellation Theory mentioned by Louis Althusser is the news. In this context, the news about the Istanbul Convention in the BirGün and Yeni Akit newspapers have been analyzed through discourse analysis, and it has been tried to reveal that the ideological messages in the news texts cause the production of consent in individuals, that individuals are placed politically and economically within the capitalist system, and where the media stands in the capitalist system.