3. Public Service Media

The public service mission of Dokuz Eylül is to provide accurate, impartial, and responsible journalism that serves the needs of the public. As the voice of journalists, Dokuz Eylül is committed to upholding the principles of press freedom, transparency, and accountability. The media outlet aims to inform, educate, and engage the community by covering significant events and current developments in İzmir and beyond. Through its dedication to ethical journalism, Dokuz Eylül seeks to empower the public with reliable information, support democratic values, and contribute to the well-being of society by maintaining a high standard of journalistic integrity.

The role and responsibilities of Dokuz Eylül are not specified by a single law or legal instrument. Instead, the media outlet operates within the legal framework provided by Turkish press and media laws, including the Press Law (Basın Kanunu) and related regulations that govern media operations, transparency, and accountability in Turkey. Additionally, as part of İzmir Gazeteciler Cemiyeti (IGC), Dokuz Eylül adheres to the ethical standards and professional guidelines established by the IGC, which further define its editorial responsibilities and commitment to public service journalism. These legal and ethical frameworks collectively guide the media outlet’s mission, ensuring compliance with national laws and industry standards.

https://igc.org.tr/kurumsal/medya-kurulusu-aciklamasi/

Dokuz Eylul's primary stakeholders with formal relations are:

Izmir Journalists Association (IGC): As the founding and governing body, IGC oversees Dokuz Eylul’s operations, ensures adherence to ethical journalism standards, and supports editorial independence. This relationship is governed by internal regulations and professional guidelines established by IGC.

Press Advertisement Agency (BİK): Provides financial support through payments for official advertisements and public announcements. This formal relationship ensures a steady income stream while maintaining Dokuz Eylul’s editorial independence.

Advertisers and Sponsors: Dokuz Eylul maintains formal relationships with various advertisers and sponsors who contribute to its financial sustainability. These partnerships are managed through contracts that ensure a clear separation between commercial interests and editorial content.

Journalistic and Media Organizations: Dokuz Eylul is connected to other media and press associations, fostering professional collaboration and adherence to industry standards. These relationships support the media outlet's commitment to journalistic excellence.

These formal relationships help Dokuz Eylul fulfill its mission while maintaining its independence, transparency, and commitment to public service journalism.

Dokuz Eylul generates its income through a diverse range of sources that ensure financial sustainability while maintaining editorial independence:

Contributions of the Izmir Journalists Association (IGC): The contributions of the IGC, which holds the franchise of Dokuz Eylül, support operational expenses and editorial activities.

Advertisements: Revenue from advertisements on the website and newspaper provides a significant portion of income. These advertisements are carefully managed to maintain a clear separation from editorial content, preserving the outlet's journalistic integrity.

Sponsorships and Partnerships: Collaborations with sponsors and partners offer additional financial support, often linked to specific projects or events that align with the media outlet's mission and values.

Payments from Basın İlan Kurumu (BİK): Significant income is generated through payments for "resmi ilan" (official announcements) and "resmi reklam" (official advertisements). These payments provide a regulated and steady source of revenue, supporting the financial stability of Dokuz Eylul while ensuring compliance with official guidelines.

Events and Fundraising Activities: The outlet also organizes events, such as seminars and community engagements, which generate income through ticket sales, sponsorships, and donations.

These income streams collectively ensure the sustainability of Dokuz Eylul while upholding its commitment to independent and responsible journalism.

The newspaper increases its income by purchasing special advertisements, magazines and supplements due to the ownership structure of the IGC.

A portion of Dokuz Eylul’s income comes from public funds through payments made by Basın İlan Kurumu (BİK) for 'resmi ilan' (official announcements) and 'resmi reklam' (official advertisements). These payments constitute a regulated source of income and are considered public funds. While exact figures may vary annually, these payments represent a significant portion of the media outlet's revenue, contributing to financial stability without compromising editorial independence. Other income sources, such as membership fees, private advertisements, sponsorships, and events, make up the remainder, ensuring a balanced financial structure.

A portion of Dokuz Eylül’s income is primarily generated from public funds through payments made by the Press Advertisement Institution (BIK). This form of financing guarantees financial support while maintaining compliance with legal standards and does not influence editorial decisions, preserving the publication’s commitment to independent journalism. For this reason, our newspaper and İGC are working on alternative sources of income and are achieving success in this regard, despite the difficulties faced by local press activities in our country.