1 İbrahim Anıl ÇELİKBAŞ- 116605017 Med 511- Conducting the Content Analysis Final Paper: Conduct a content analysis on a widely covered criminal act on at least 3 different mainstream newspapers for a certain period of time and analyze the data in terms of construction of crime news. The aim of this study is a content analysis of three Turkish mainstream newspapers which are Hürriyet, Vatan and Posta. Those newspapers have been chosen in terms of their selection of news sources, use of pictures and use of language. Hence, Vatan and Posta are tabloids and Hürriyet is the representative one among those. Regarding newspapers reported the 19 years old- E.F.B.’s raping case since the beginning to the end. On January 26 is the first publication of the case and on May 6, 2016 is the date of case result. By the way, the case occurred on January 24, 2016 at Bağdat Caddesi which is known as most secure and modern place all over Turkey. My another reason to chose those newspapers due to each of them reported the case several times during the process of trail, therefore those news will be examined in this study. In fact, three of them as a newspaper are completely different than each other in terms of ideologically and it leads me to compare different approaches and narrations by this way. Firstly, once we evaluate Hürriyet Newspaper which has given place to raping issue on the bottom right-hand corner of the first page on January 26, 2016. The headline of the news is “The Terror of Rape at Bostancı” which was written red and capital letters. “He Caught on Camera” was the
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İbrahim Anıl ÇELİKBAŞ- 116605017Med 511- Conducting the Content Analysis
Final Paper: Conduct a content analysis on a widely covered criminal act on at least 3 different
mainstream newspapers for a certain period of time and analyze the data in terms of
construction of crime news.
The aim of this study is a content analysis of three Turkish mainstream newspapers which are
Hürriyet, Vatan and Posta. Those newspapers have been chosen in terms of their selection of
news sources, use of pictures and use of language. Hence, Vatan and Posta are tabloids and
Hürriyet is the representative one among those. Regarding newspapers reported the 19 years old-
E.F.B.’s raping case since the beginning to the end. On January 26 is the first publication of the
case and on May 6, 2016 is the date of case result. By the way, the case occurred on January 24,
2016 at Bağdat Caddesi which is known as most secure and modern place all over Turkey. My
another reason to chose those newspapers due to each of them reported the case several times
during the process of trail, therefore those news will be examined in this study. In fact, three of
them as a newspaper are completely different than each other in terms of ideologically and it
leads me to compare different approaches and narrations by this way.
Firstly, once we evaluate Hürriyet Newspaper which has given place to raping issue on the
bottom right-hand corner of the first page on January 26, 2016.
The headline of the news is “The Terror of Rape at Bostancı” which was written red and capital
letters. “He Caught on Camera” was the second headline that was following after the main
headline. The details of the news are as following;
“On January 23, in Istanbul, a university student girl who is 19-year-old was raped by Cengiz A.
who threatened her with a knife on the street. The rapist was caught at his home in Pendik just
after examining the MOBESE cameras. The young girl's mobile phone came out of Cengiz A.
who was a service driver in a private company.”
In fact, the news was not in the main headline of the newspaper. The details of the news was
pressed on the 3rd page of the newspaper. There was a blurry photo of the rapist who has been
arrested on the newspaper. The resource of the news is the reporter. When we carry out in-depth
analysis, some details of the news are gory. When we look at the another sub-heading “which
belongs to IHA” within the same news as below,
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İbrahim Anıl ÇELİKBAŞ- 116605017Med 511- Conducting the Content Analysis
“He took her to rape step by step!” The footages have come in sight which is in the back garden
of an apartment in Bağdat Caddesi, university student E.F.B. was moving towards the back of the
apartment with him. In the horrific case, safety camera’s views also come in sight. The security
camera records of the apartment show that the criminal and the young girl are moving towards
the back of the building. (IHA)1
Obviously, there are some citations and a sort of fantasy manner of telling within the news. For
instance, “Usurped” and “raped victim” E.F.B. once she was identifying the criminal in the
Bureau of Extort, she explained the process as following;
"After I had a fun with my friends, I went out to back home. After I got off minibus, I walked on
the road then I heard some footsteps from my behind. I pulled out the earpiece on my ear then I
quicken my steps, the person behind me was talking on the phone with someone, he said 'around
15 -20 minutes later, I will be at home'. After a few minutes, he grabbed me and put a knife on my
back, he said that “If you shout, I will run you through with this knife” then he closed my mouth
and dragged me to the back garden of an apartment near my house. He began to forcibly kiss me
then he raped me and robbed my money (65 TL) and mobile phone, then he wanted to force me
into the minibus. I begged him. I cried. He kicked me and left me there. He was away.” After all
that’s happened, she went her home and told everything to her family then they went to the police
headquarters. After the rapist who is Cengiz Ay ran away from the venue, then E.F.B knocked
her home’s door distraughtly. She was immediately taken to the police station by her family, after
she was interrogated, she was transferred to Institution of Forensic Medicine. An extensive
investigation was launched by attorney generalship which gave the instructions to the
“Molecular Genetic Investigation” to get sperm samples from the young girl. Afterward,
according to E.F.B’s description, the police in Istanbul was alerting in order to capture of the
swarthy and black short-haired pervert. During the investigation which was carried out by the
Public Security Branch Office, the police examined the views of the security cameras and
identified the attacker's identity as a first. After the attacker was running away from the venue, he
got on the minibus. The attacker was followed up to Pendik by using the camera views of the
minibus. After he got off the minibus, he had been surveilled by the police via camera views to
the street where he lived in. The attacker Cengiz Ay was identified by her and he was taken into
1 http://www.iha.com.tr/video-genc-kizi-adim-adim-tecavuze-boyle-goturdu-78570/ (Last Accessed December 4, 2016), Translation is mine.
İbrahim Anıl ÇELİKBAŞ- 116605017Med 511- Conducting the Content Analysis
custody on January 25, 2016. Previously, he has 8 criminal records in police because of some
sort of crimes such as bodily harm, drug addict, breach of confidence and also he is married and
he has two children. 2 (Ali Aksoyer, Cengiz Çoban/İstanbul - DHA)
It can be seen precisely that the resource of the news is known. There are some quotations which
belong to the victim within the news. In the news, both the case itself and the actors come into
prominence. To be obvious, there is a statement in the news that accuses the criminal, and there is
no statement that accuses the victim. In the content of the news, some of the following adjectives
were used in order to describe the E.F.B; Victim, usurped and so forth. In the content of the news,
one of the following adjectives is used to describe the defendant; Pervert, rapist etc. In the news
emphasized on the mostly speed of police and how fast solve the case.
Table 1. Total News Items with Picture(s)
PICTUR
ES
FREQUEN
CY
PERCE
NT
VALID
PERCE
NT
CUMULATI
VE
PERCENT
Hürriyet 5,0 21,7 21,7 21,7
Vatan 11,0 47,8 47,8 47,8
Posta 7,0 30,4 30,4 30,4
Total 23,0 100 100,0 100,0
Table 2. Distribution of the News Items in terms of Known and Unknown Sources
News Sources
Stated?
FREQUENC
Y
PERCEN
T
VALID
PERCENT
CUMULATIV
E PERCENT
Yes 8 66,7 66,7 66,7
No 4 33,3 33,3 33,3
Total 12 100,0 100,0 100,0
In Table 2, in fact, journalism emerges a guideline for society to direct them. Therefore,
journalists ought to deal in trustworthy facts, hence source of news is vital that show us the
credibility of the news.
2 Ali Aksoyer- Cengiz Çoban, “İstanbul'un Göbeğinde Tecavüz Dehşeti”, DHA (Last Accessed; December 4, 2016) http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/istanbulun-gobeginde-tecavuz-dehseti-40045189 Translation is mine.
İbrahim Anıl ÇELİKBAŞ- 116605017Med 511- Conducting the Content Analysis
Furthermore, as it known that most important factor in order to provide confidence in journalism
is to remark source of the news. If a media organ does not remark the source of the news, the
context of the news cannot be accepted as trustworthy. As stated in Table 2, the source of 4 out of
12 news was unknown. Thirty three percent rate is very much high when the fundamental
elements of journalism are considered
When we look at the news of Hürriyet on January 26, 2016
The main heading of the news is “The rape suspect in Kadıköy could not sleep!” The sub-
heading of the news is “Tears of a mother…” During the trail, the defendant Cengiz A. who had
been determined the identification, stated that he broke up his wife and he had a child. While
reading the indictment the victim E.F.B.'s mother could not hold her tears during the trail.
Cengiz A. said that "I do not make any statement about blame. He used the right to remain
silence.3
As it can be seen, the main heading of the news makes a sense a kind of regretful manner of
Cengiz Ay. Even if he cannot speak at all and he cannot sleep which means he has a soul as well.
When we evaluate news of Vatan Newspaper on January 26, 2016,
In Vatan Newsaper, actually we don’t find anything new in terms of narration of the case from
Hürriyet. Both newspapers almost pressed the same context of the regarding issue. Merely, it
included the defendant’s discourse that he confessed his crime during the interrogation and he
said that “I gave in to temptation, I am very much regretful what I did!” 4
The news has been published by the news agency which is DHA. Both newspapers which are
Hürriyet and Vatan used the same blurry photo that was the rapist’s one Vatan is on the contrary
of Hürriyet, it pressed the news on the top right-hand corner. The letters are bigger and more
visible. It was given a name to rapist which is “Pervert of the Street.” In the headline of the news
was much more about details of the rapist e.g. “he has two children”, “he is a service driver” and
“he has 8 different criminal records” and so on. Some details of the issue have given on the first
page of the newspaper as well. His statement has been taken part in the news as above mentioned.
3 http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/kadikoydeki-tecavuz-zanlisi-uyamiyormus-40086811 (Last Accessed December 4, 2016), Translation is mine.4 http://www.gazetevatan.com/bagdat-caddesi-nde-tecavuz-dehseti-908693-yasam/(Last Accessed December 4, 2016), Translation is mine.
İbrahim Anıl ÇELİKBAŞ- 116605017Med 511- Conducting the Content Analysis
Total 12 100,0 100,0 100,0
Table 4. Total News Coverage on Inner Pages
INNER
PAGES
FREQUEN
CY
PERCEN
T
VALID
PERCEN
T
CUMULATI
VE
PERCENT
Yes 10 83,3 83,3 83,3
No 2 16,7 16,7 16,7
Total 12 100,0 100,0 100,0
As it can be seen on Tables 3 and 4, 41 percent of the total coverage of the case was stated in the
headlines and out of 2 news covered on the front page, 5 of them were o the headline. In fact, it
indicates how much importance was given to this case on different newspapers.
When we examine the news which was published on February 10, 2016, in Vatan
newspaper;
The headline of the news is “The young girl who was raped, told the horror of Bağdat Caddesi.”
The sub-heading of the news as below;
The young girl who could not get rid of the effect of the terrible trauma that she experienced and
she started to get psychological support. She told the moments of horror within the scope of the
investigation. Attorney generalship which has been waiting for the results of molecular genetic
testing will issue an indictment with a request for the imprisonment of up to 38 years. On the
24th of January, E.F.B., who had been having fun at Kadıköy with her friends and then while she
was returning to Bostancı at 02.40, she was aware of following herself on the street, someone
steals up on herself. E. F.B. also stated that the event had happened a very near distance to her
house that she would sound to her father and she continued as follows: He put a knife, “When I
understood that I followed, I reacted by saying, 'What's going on?' But he put a knife on my back
and said, “Keep your mouth shut!” and he took me behind a car. He said, 'Kiss me.' I continued
the reaction by saying 'What's going on?' He began to kiss me, and he was saying, “I will run
you through with this knife!” He was showing the knife that he held. He forced me to take to the
garden of the apartment near my house. He asked me “how old are you?” I said 16. He said,
"Tell me the truth, how old are you?" Then I said my real age. He asked me “Have you ever had
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İbrahim Anıl ÇELİKBAŞ- 116605017Med 511- Conducting the Content Analysis
sex with anyone?” I thought maybe he would not do anything if I say I am virgin. He continued
to kiss me and then he raped me! Then he robbed my money and mobile phone, I begged him. I
cried. He kicked me and left me there. He was away.” The prosecution expects the result of a
molecular genetic study to be conducted on the evidence obtained at the scene in the
investigation. After reaching the report, the prosecutor's office had been expected to submittal of
the indictment on charges of 'sexual assault, qualified robbery and threatening with a knife from
22.5 years to 38 years' imprisonment. 6 (Kaynak: Habertürk)
As it can be seen, the news is getting much more detailed about case bit by bit. In this context, it
feels like we are reading a pornographic article, not a criminal one. I think, it is quite
inconvenient news. To be honest, the context of the news disturbs me as a reader, I do not want to
learn such a details about the case. Beside, E.F.B’s detailed statement has pressed in the
newspaper wholly; “is it really necessary, in other words; ethical?” Some of the details make the
case more sensational. While reading the news, rather than the content, phraseology and some
details of the news actually draw more attention. The content of the news involved dialogues
which are actually harassing between the criminal and E.F.B. The end of the news mentioned
that the accusations to the criminal and penal sanction.
Table 5. Total Number of News Items with Relevant & Irrelevant Pictures
RelevantFREQUENC
Y
PERCEN
T
VALID
PERCENT
CUMULATI
VE
PERCENT
Hürriyet 8 27,6 27,6 27,6
Vatan 12 41,4 41,4 41,4
Posta 9 31,0 31,0 31,0
Total 29 100,0 100,0 100,0
IrrelevantFREQUEN
CY
PERCE
NT
VALID
PERCENT
CUMULATI
VE
PERCENT
6 http://www.gazetevatan.com/tecavuze-ugrayan-genc-kiz-bagdat-caddesi-dehsetini-anlatti-913549-gundem/(Last Accessed December 4, 2016), Translation is mine.
İbrahim Anıl ÇELİKBAŞ- 116605017Med 511- Conducting the Content Analysis
PERCENT
Yes 32 88,9 88,9 88,9
No 4 11,1 11,1 11,1
Total 36 100,0 100,0 100,0
When we evaluate the newspapers in terms of using the security camera images, a large amount
of newspapers used those images within the news. In fact, they are very much disturbing which
was about Cengiz Ay forced to her who was horrified to walk to the back garden of an apartment
and he was precisely erection in those images. In order to much more sensationalize the news, all
of the newspapers used them within the news. As far as I am concerned, it can be controversial as
to how ethical to use of camera images.
When we look at the day of judicial decision that Hürriyet and Vatan published the news on
May 6, 2016 briefly,
Cengiz Ay who raped and extorted to E.F.B was sentenced to 45 years imprisonment. There was
no remission.
“Intensive Participation to Trial!”
The defendant Cengiz Ay, who was arrested for the 2nd trial of the case in Anadolu 4th High
Criminal Court, and the attorneys of the parties attended. The attorney of the Ministry of Family
and Social Policies and parents of E. F.B. attended to the trial as well. Intensive security
measures are taken before the trial, friends of E.F.B. and members of Platform to Stop Women
Murders followed the proceeding. In the trial, after the public prosecutor's obiter dictum, the
court board passed sentence on. Cengiz Ay, 30 years for the "sexual assault" and for “extortion”
15 years, sentenced him totally 45 years. The court, considering the fact that the defendant had
not shown any regrets after the accusations this is why it did not make any discounts in the
penalty which was given.9
Table 8. Distribution of the headlines in terms of Descriptive & Interpretive
Headlines FREQUENCY
PERCENT
VALID PERCENT
CUMULATIVE
PERCENTDescriptive 3 25,0 25,0 25,0
9 Aziz Özen - Arzu Kaya http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/bagdat-caddesindeki-tecavuz-davasinda-45-yil-hapis-cezasi-40100166 & http://www.gazetevatan.com/kadikoy-deki-tecavuz-ve-gasp-iddiasi-davasinda-karar-942316-yasam/ (Last accessed December 11, 2016) Translation is mine.
İbrahim Anıl ÇELİKBAŞ- 116605017Med 511- Conducting the Content Analysis
Interpretive 9 75,0 75,0 75,0
Total 12 100,0 100,0 100,0
As it can be seen on Table 8, headlines are generally descriptive which shows us the detailed of
the news. In fact, traditionally interpretive headlines are the most preferred. As raping case
newspapers used much more interpretive headlines. In spite of only 3 headlines descriptive, 9
headlines are descriptive. Vatan had a one and Posta had two descriptive headlines; Hürriyet had
3 interpretive, Posta had two and Vatan had 3 interpretive headlines.
When we look at the news of Posta Newspaper on May 6, 2016;
The defendant Cengiz Ay who had right to speak during the trial but he stated that he had given
his defense statement and there was nothing to add to it. The defendant Cengiz Ay, in his defense
statement claiming that the intimacy began between the victim before the camera views: "As
indicated in the indictment that I started to follow her does not reflect the truth. E.F.B said to me
'Let's go to the nook.' and she took me to the garden of her apartment. While we were going to
the garden of the apartment, I carried a knife because I just met with her and I did not trust her,
also I was taken away that I did not know. I have never been involved in any attempt or action to
threaten her.”
I was cold-blooded during the incident due to I was in danger!
E.F.B stated that she does not agree with his defense statement and she said: "My life was in
danger this is why I was cold-blooded during the incident." Birsel Kurt who is the lawyer of the
Ministry of Family and Social Policies demanded that he must be punished for the act of sexual
assault and qualified robbery to E.F.B. Cengiz Ay did not accept the charges. Cengiz Ay, 30
years for the act of "sexual assault" and “extortion” 15 years, sentenced him totally 45 years
imprisonment.10
To conclude, this small-scale research shows us the press media’s strength over the society. In
this criminal case, printed media used some sort of words to the defendant such as pervert,
deviant etc. Inferential, it cause to defendant was punished aggravated 45 years imprisonment.
10 http://www.posta.com.tr/bagdat-caddesindeki-tecavuz-davasinda-45-yil-hapis-cezasi-haberi-341412(Last accessed December 11, 2016) Translation is mine.