Local press in Turkey from Ottoman Empire to the Republic

History of the Turkish Press began with the official newspaper named Takvîm-i Vekâyi, which was published nearly a century after the first Turkish printing house was established in the Ottoman Empire. With the proclamation of the Tanzimat, the number of newspapers instantly increased and besides the official gazette, private newspapers also took their place in the Turkish Press History. With the increase in the number of newspapers, many arrangements have been made for the press. Provincial newspapers, which construct the basis of the local press, also have an important place in the Turkish Press. With the transition of the Ottoman Empire from the provincial system to the province system, one printing house was established in each province and these printing houses provided an environment for publishing the provincial newspapers. Although the provincial newspapers were published by prioritizing administrative and political reasons, they played a leading role in the formation of the local press in the Ottoman Empire. With the mission of strengthening the relation between center and province by the hand of the provincial newspapers, it was aimed to convey the decisions of the central administration to the related region, to strengthen the ties between the state and the people, to struggle against the separatist tendencies and publications in the Ottoman Empire, which was a multinational empire. In addition, provincial newspapers also contributed to the development of the cultural and social life of the local community. The local press, which experienced a rapid development process led by the provincial newspapers, became a power that creates a more effective public opinion during the National Struggle. During the years of the National Struggle, local newspapers published despite all kinds of poverty and difficulties, became the voice of the National Struggle Movement. Most of these newspapers published in many towns and cities of Anatolia, were continued to be printed to support the struggle despite all the impossibilities. During the period from the Ottoman Empire to the Republic, the local press played an effective role in the transition from a collapsed empire to a national state, and made significant contributions to the enlightenment of the society and especially to the National Struggle.