Critical political economy analysis of the popular science magazines in Turkey:The "Bilim ve Teknik" and "Popular Science" examples

In this study, popular science publications, specifically popular science magazines, have been investigated in terms of critical political economy. The development of the popular science concept throughout history, and the relation between the political economy and popular science in certain historical revolutions have been handled, and the historical, social and political economic dimensions of popular science have been examined. In the study, where different approaches that are focused on science communication are also discussed, in general, the science communication activities; and specifically the search for an attitude that is critical about the popular science publications have been discussed in terms of their roots. In the study, where the answer of "critical political economy approach may be made use of" may be given to the questions on critical attitude search, the roots of critical political economy and the approaches on political economy of the media have also been sought for. Defining the material structure of the body where popular science magazines are produced, and determining the effects of this material structure on the contents constitute the general framework of this study. Qualitative analysis method has been made use of for the hypothetical discussions and for the aim of the study. The sectorial and textual analyses have been performed in the analyses sections of the study in which the binary data collection technique has been used. In the sector analysis related with the production stage of the magazines, detailed interviews which were semi-structured were made with the editorial staff of the two prominent magazines that are being published in the field of political economy with commercial and public benefit purposes. These interviews have been evaluated under the thematic titles determined. In the textual analysis of the contents of the magazines, all 2014 volumes of Bilim ve Teknik and Popular Science magazines have been analyzed under the defined thematic titles. As a conclusion, it has been determined that the differences between the two magazines that have different publication models and that have two different ownership structures stem from political economy factors such as production relations, production styles, effort processes, ownership structures and publication models. In other words, it has been concluded that the contents of the magazines are determined by the material structure by which they are being produced and published. Keywords: Popular science publications, popular science magazines, critical political economy approach, public publishing, commercial publishing, qualitative analysis method.