Representation of LGBTI+ in Turkey in mainstream newspapers

This thesis examined the coverage of LGBTİ+ news from Sabah, Birgün, Hürriyet, Yeni Şafak, Posta newspapers between 2004-2020. It examines how LGBTİ+ are represented in mainstream newspapers in Turkey, and how discrimination and homophobia seen in the news are produced. Covering all the news about LGBTİ+ individuals published in the five highest circulation newspapers in Turkey for 16 years, examining a much wider range of news than previous studies; makes this study and its findings important. The result of the study, especially Hürriyet, Sabah and Posta newspapers, which were among the newspapers with high circulation in the examined period, legitimize the position of the generally accepted assigned genders of the society with their news. They give more space to news that represent sexual identities other than assigned genders with a discriminatory and sometimes even homophobic discourse. Unlike these three newspapers, Birgün newspaper reported on LGBTİ+ and events related to these individuals in a more democratic way and in a way to make their demands heard. Yeni Şafak newspaper, on the other hand, imposed a symbolic annihilation LGBTİ+ due to the small number of news it published and the handling of these news. He avoided expressing the views and demands of LGBTİ+ as much as possible.