The precarious process of journalism profession in Turkey

This research has been carried out to understand the precarization process of the journalism profession in Turkey, the precariousness experienced in working relations and the change in professional practices as a result. The aim of this study is to explain the precarization process in the journalism profession in Turkey through the deterioration in working conditions and to make sense of the transformation in professional practices and the struggle of journalists against this situation. In this context, first of all, the concept of precarity, the historical process of precarity, the relationship between professionalization of professions and precarity, and organizational practices for the precarization process were explained in a conceptual framework. Afterwards, the professionalization process of the journalism profession and the precarization which increased its visibility in the field together with the post-1980 neoliberal policies were discussed. In the findings section, a mixed method was used which allows qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques to take place together. An online survey was conducted with 209 people who carry out journalism activities at the national level in the printed, visual, digital and free field, and in-depth interviews were conducted with 15 journalists. The data obtained from the questionnaires and interviews were evaluated according to the explanatory sequential design of the mixed method. First of all, the process of precarization in working conditions such as low wages, unemployment, non-unionization, regression in social rights, flexible employment, and increase in working hours and intensity were examined, and then the topics of specialization, unqualification, and editorial independence that brought about by this process created in professional practices were discussed. After all, what kind of a struggle the journalists put up for this whole process and at what level (individual/organizational) this struggle is observed were explained through the experiences of the journalists. According to the results of the study, it was found that the precarization increased in factors such as wages, employment, social rights, working time and intensity, this situation negatively affected professional practices such as specialization, education, editorial independence, and that journalists could not put forward a strong organization.