Civil Pages

According to research results; civil society in Turkey is extremely successful in describing social and environmental issues, analyzing the sources that cause problems, and producing information about the problems, whereas it is insufficient in influencing the opinions of citizens, the decisions of politics and public administration.

The closure on the axis of identities is a reflection of politics in Turkey on civil society. CSOs that emerge on the axis of identities such as religious identity, ethnic identity, and cultural identity experience a kind of introversion and do not engage in much relations with identities that do not resemble them. When they relate with different identities, clearly that the relationship is a non-negotiative one. Thematic closure, on the other hand, is shaped around topics. Environmental organizations close to the subject of the environment, women’s organizations to the issue of women, and it is seen that there is no connection between them. The fact that CSOs that explore different problems and seek solutions do not develop relations with each other and can not create a negotiation environment both renders the civil society world ineffective against decision makers, and democracy in Turkey loses a very important pillar. 

Civil Pages was founded by YADA in 2015 with the aim of overcoming the withdraw of civil society and contributing to increasing its impact. Civil Pages, carried out by YADA until mid 2020, became completely independent from YADA from August 2020 and now, it is continuing activities within the association with the establishment of the Civil Society and Media Studies Association.

Civil Pages aim to make the experience of civil society visible to the media, public administration, the world of opinion and other CSOs through civil society journalism. Civil Pages offers the spokespersons of the civil society world a platform where they can participate in discussions and open new discussions. The concept of civil society journalism that Civil Pages brought to the agenda of Turkey, especially civil society, can be defined as journalism that makes the experience accumulated in civil society visible and allows advocacy activities in different fields and identities to meet on a common ground. To give a broader definition; with a sense of responsibility towards society, which is one of the main principles of journalism, it can be said that it is an effort to bring a different perspective and approach to issues by voicing the issues within the agenda of civil society and making the knowledge and experience in this field visible. 

Civil society journalism; apart from the routine reports and press releases of civil society, it enables to make the knowledge and experience produced more effective. Preparing the presented studies with new techniques and methods; it also facilitates the preparation of content that will be more in demand for the traditional media, which has lost its power due to economic trouble, political pressure, and transformation of technology.It leads the way in circulating the experience and works of civil society with the representation of its own producers, instead of issues such as inability to become an actor, which is one of the main problems of the civil society world, and the need for a ‘famous face’ in order to convey its works to the society. Another topic on which the Civil Pages set out while bringing the concept of civil society journalism to the agenda of civil society; it was to set an example that social media, which came into our lives with the development of technology, would function as an effective media tool for civil society if used correctly. CSOs can reach the public more easily and increase their influence by making their websites interactive, preparing their content according to the characteristics of the social media they use, sometimes with an effective title and sometimes with a correctly constructed content.

Why is civil society journalism needed?

When we look at the journalism branches emerging under different headings, we see a journalism understanding that follows certain ecosystems. Branches such as magazine journalism, judicial-legal journalism, and culture-art journalism can be given as examples. From the perspective of democratic actors, the civil society ecosystem is also an ecosystem that should be taken into account. Therefore, a correct understanding of journalism should be developed in order to follow the dynamics here. This makes sense for both those inside  the ecosystem and those outside it.

While public institutions, academia and experts on the subject are among the actors that the media turns to for evaluation in the current events, civil society rarely enters among these actors. However, civil society has significant experience with its research and field experiences related to its own subject. Civil society journalism is also done by focusing on this experience.

General Information About Civil Pages

Civic Pages is a reliable channel to follow in order to get information and news about civil society, actors – regardless of their institutional or identity structure – and to see the agenda from the point of view of civil society.

Its aim is at the level of civil society, its subjects, groups and those who want to come into contact with them; to be the address of the news about civil society and the perspective of civil society in current news. While creating a platform where CSOs appear, meet, discuss, watch and follow each other;

• To strengthen CSOs, to increase the influence of civil society on decisions
• To move civil society away from being an area where polarization is produced by the political field are reflected, and to transform the differences into a world of encounter, meeting, conversation, negotiation, and cooperation
• To replace the perception with a perception that sees it as a rival, foe, and legitimate opponent
• To question the introverted and uncommunicative states of CSOs, to strengthen their ties by opening up to the outside world
• In summary, it is a candidate to be a channel that contributes to CSOs becoming valuable and reputable organizations in the face of society, politics and each other.

For this purpose, on Civil Pages; current news, interviews, analysis, and files from a civil society perspective, stories of CSOs, news and announcements, event calendars, and articles on civil society, discussions and posts are included.

Civil Pages, which started its publication life in January 2015, has since then focused on food, social entrepreneurship, cycling, environment, children, religious identity – belief, education, disability, ethnic identity, youth, migration – refugee rights, animal rights, climate, human rights, humanitarian aid, workers’ rights, women, development, city, culture – art, LGBTI, media, professional rights, health, civil society development, politics, technology, gender, social memory, it has produced more than 5 thousand content in the categories.