Independent "16 Pages" Newspaper in the Starting Block
On coming Friday (13 May), the "16 Pages" ('16 Sayfa') newspaper will start publishing. The paper carries the subtitle "weekly opposition".
"16 Pages" will be published by about 60 founders and is financed by a "Founders Subscribers" system. The weekly will be sold at major bookstores and news agents in Istanbul and Ankara.
As reported by MedyaTava.com, a copy will be sold at one Turkish Lira (€ 0.50). The team was joined by journalists Ahmet Eken, Ümit Uzmay, Şengün Kılıç, Uğur Güç, Mine Türkili, Duygu Günkut, Simin Hacıosmanoğlu, Cengiz Erdinç, Mete Öztürk, Yusuf Al, Cem Kor, İbrahim Günel, Halil İbrahim İzzet, Erkan Araz, Baran Kaya and others.
"Right to information is sacred"
On their webpage 16Sayfa.com, the new weekly defines itself as an independent initiative. The plain aim is to do the job of journalists. In doing so, the newspaper aims at providing high quality news, comments and analyses in the most simple way and at low cost.
"Freedom of expression is an important component of journalism in our opinion. The right to information is sacred in a democratic society", the founders say on their web site.
"We think that journalism can be done best when it is independent. This independence can only be achieved with transparency, sincerity and equality. Therefore, 16 Pages aims at developing a structure according to these basic rules and at creating a structure where all journalist work under the same conditions", the founders continue.
"Independent financial structure essential for being independent"
The weekly has no certain financier. "We are encouraged by the support received from the Founder Subscribers. Hence, we are setting off with limited resources overlooking a certain amount of time. We have to reach our envisaged circulation within a certain time. A financial structure that is independent of anybody and anything is essential for independent journalism. The only way to reach this is the income from the readers".
The 16 pages will be printed on cheap paper in black and white. The aim of the weekly is being defined as being the eye and the ear of a democratic society with the expertise of independent journalists.
Basic principles
The main principle of the weekly is described as sincerity of the news and comments as well as sincerity regarding financial and political issues.
"Freedom of expression is unlimited; it is the freedom of the listener, the reader and the viewer. The news, analyses and comments will not serve any open or concealed interest".
"Everybody who is involved in the production of the newspaper is entitled to view income and expenses".
The newspaper will be managed by an editor-in-chief to be voted according to certain rules for a definite period of time. Everybody who works for the newspaper shares its ownership as defined by the law. Ownership does not imply profit sharing. (EKN/VK)
