APPROACH OF THE TURKISH PRESS TO NİHÂL ATSIZ: REVIEW OF SAMPLE NEWS ON THE SKULL MEASUREMENT

NihâlAtsız is an expert specializedon literature, language and history. When the subject is about the Turkism, he is among the authors that firstly come to mind, together with persons such as ZiyaGökalp and Yusuf Akçura. He is a man who dedicated his life to Turkism. In addition to being a scientist, he is an author who has influenced generations with his works. His novels, especially the novel called “BozkurtlarınÖlümü”, are so effective that he has, so to speak, become one of the heroes depicted by him among his readers. His readers and fans make him legendary, attributing to him the titles "Atsız the Ancestor", "SkyWiseman".Such a dignification and adoption are out of question for any other writer.For such a person, it is certain and natural that there are those who do not like him as much as those who admire him. However, it should be noted here that this idea of opposition should not become the real information distorted or ignore it, mislead the public and publish false news. This kind of behaviour is not only contrary to the ethics and principles of the press-publication, but also to the principles of humanity. In this study, it will be examined how the allegation that Nihâl Atsız performed skull measurement and decided according to this measurement whether people are Turkish or not, is presented on the press. The difference between the “reality” and “the representation of the press” will be revealed by the discourse analysis method. On the other hand, it will also be demonstratedthat NihâlAtsız is not a character who seeks unscientific ways and is only composed of some extremities as presented in the media, byrevealing a literature review of both his own articles and scientific researches about him.

Keywords

Nihâl Atsız, skull, media, partiality, press ethics, Thesis on Turkish history, physical anthropolog