One needs to correctly understand the spirit of the time, the Zeitgeist, and make use of creative imaginations, comprehensive analyses and sound conclusions in order to face new eras with new discourses.
Those who stick to the past's criteria in their trade will melt away in today's machinery of global -- and even local -- competition. Those who inherited the Cold War politics of the past will be unable to see that today politics are not restricted to ideological discourse. Today's realities are forcing us to adopt a more rational philosophy of service that makes politics more submissive to humanity.
Yet, my real concern is not politics or trade. The media, in particular the Turkish media, are still influenced by the Cold War rhetoric in the way they treat new developments. However, the 9/11 attacks and Iraq's invasion as well as a new mentality that accompanied them were dumped on the Cold War era's radioactive fallout. Unfortunately, a dark shadow has fallen on the freedom of the press and its independence, which used to be advocated with a stentorian voice some 10 years ago. The discourse on fundamental rights and freedoms and century-old initiatives faced a big shock under the threats of "domestic security" and "terrorism"-related policies.
We need to develop new concepts and a new language and devise a new vision. The individual, the society, the state, demilitarization, internal control, the opposition and similar concepts have undergone big changes compared to 10 years ago. It is an important process to make modern concepts established locally. With all its components, the modern world is profoundly affecting our lives. We need to develop new approaches to this matter with our cultural richness and spiritual profundity. New openings are needed with respect to the concepts, the limits of which the West is assumed to have reached, such as democracy, human rights and freedom of the press. In our universe, we tend to give not much thought to the theory or philosophy of this matter. Yet, the price of clinging on to old habits is heavy. How can you explain to the people who are still guided by their old habits that the old assertions have been completely exhausted and the mind is suffering from deadlock? Suppose you are able to explain it. How can you make yourself be understood by those who see you as extremely romantic or utopian when you say, "We, too, should contribute to the creation of new concepts in our new world"?
Anyway, the media theories should be re-discussed and the century-old media practices, too, should be revised. For instance, tragic experiences from the past have created serious questions about the expansive nature of the ethical rules that preach how the media should act. The press may perceive professional ethics as those lacking any empirical benefits or sanctions. Our laws may provide us with quite a big sphere of freedom; our tricky methods encompassing those including the use of the Internet may make them useless.
Self-styled social movements are required to develop new concepts and practices in the field of media. If a person sees a news story as a divine trust, how can he dare taint that story with lies, slander, wrong information or exaggeration? If people who perceive every individual person as the most perfect creation of God and as His vice-regent in this world, can they be guided purely by a journalistic lust and turn a blind eye to any violation of private life? If people believe that every action of theirs will be assessed as to its righteousness in the Hereafter, can they act in breach of human rights, by sticking only to the sphere of freedom defined by the law?
If we allow us to be lured by luminous remarks and walk at the heights of heroism and get tired in the end, we'll get nothing. The world is fraught with disappointments, and it will not accept another frustration. Therefore, we need to work hard on the theory and come up with a well-designed system. We need to use the basic references correctly and have a good knowledge of media theories developed since the early days and revise our practical conclusions in the light of ethical considerations, and all this should be undertaken by relevant and knowledgeable people so that we can come up with a solution to the world's communication problem.
It is high time we say something novel. In this regard, as a paper building upon its 25 years of experience to become a "distinct paper," the Zaman daily has much to say in this regard. We need to ponder on ethical rules, legal sanctions, basic principles and new criteria in order to be prepared for the coming era. The new framework imposed on us by the Internet provides new advantages as well as new risks. At this point, those who hesitate to develop new positions will have a hard time in embracing the future.
In this regard, the Zaman daily's 25-year experience is of particular importance. To become one of the symbols of change not only in Turkey but also around the world is to assume a great responsibility. I hope everyone who in charge -- from the reporters to the editors -- is aware of the fact that they carry a sacred trust on their shoulders.
