Özet:

In this study, it is aimed to investigate the what extent and how the COVID-19 pandemic process is presented in Turkey’s mainstream and alternative press based on the concept of political polarization. The COVID-19 pandemic is an issue that concerns public health. Therefore, news texts about COVID-19 are expected to be independent of the political orientation of newspapers. In this context, two newspapers whose political orientations are relatively “central media” were selected as research objects in this study. Hürriyet and Gazete Pencere, two different newspapers that can be defined as mainstream and alternative media in the political economy context, were analyzed using quantitative and qualitative analysis methods. According to the results of the research, Gazete Pencere frames the news about COVID-19 mostly on the subjects of “not giving the correct number of cases and deaths” and “state officials’ failure to comply with measures”, while Hürriyet reflects the COVID-19 news on the axis of “citizens’ failure to comply with the measures”. This situation is compatible with the arguments of the ruling and opposition actors in Turkey. At the same time, it is seen that politicians appear more frequently than scientists in both newspapers. In this study, it was concluded that the power and struggle in the polarized political and social sphere -despite the fact that health is at the forefront and newspapers are relatively central media- also manifested itself in the media field.

Anahtar Kelimeler: