General elections in Yeni Sabah, the first newspaper of non-press capital (1948-1964)

Until 1948, newspaper proprietors in Turkey were almost exclusively individuals with backgrounds in journalism. This tradition was disrupted on December 16, 1948, when Safaeddin Kılıçlıoğlu —an entrepreneur with no prior experience in journalism—purchased Yeni Sabah. Kılıçlıoğlu's entry marked a turning point, as he modernized the newspaper with new facilities and advanced printing technology, rapidly increasing its circulation and establishing it as the second best-selling newspaper in the country. More than just a media outlet, Yeni Sabah became influential in the realms of politics and society, reflecting Kılıçlıoğlu's close relationships with political actors and his active role in political dialogues. This transformation positioned the newspaper as a significant player in contemporary political developments. This study investigates Yeni Sabah as the first major example of non-media capital ownership in Turkish press history, focusing on its place in the media landscape and the evolution of its editorial policies. The originality of this research lies in the limited number of studies on both the newspaper and its owner, as well as the inclusion of previously unpublished documents. In this study, the newspaper's publications for the 1950, 1954, 1957, and 1961 general elections were selected as the sample to examine its political positioning. Editorials, news reports, columns, and cartoons were systematically examined using document analysis methodology. The findings indicate that Yeni Sabah consistently supported the Democrat Party during its rise to power, provided significant space for Osman Bölükbaşı and the Republican Nation Party, and maintained a distant stance towards the CHP throughout these periods. The newspaper's editorial policy displayed flexibility in response to shifting political contexts and its relations with those in power. By focusing on Yeni Sabah, this research concretizes the shift in ownership structures and the process of press industrialization in Turkey. It offers a nuanced analysis encompassing the proprietor's identity, ideological positioning, and the intricate relationship between media and politics. The in-depth examination of a previously overlooked newspaper is expected to contribute new perspectives and debates to the understanding of industrial and political transformations within the Turkish press.