RTÜK
Encyclopedia
RTÜK is the Turkish
state agency for monitoring, regulating, and sanctioning radio
and television
broadcasts. RTÜK was founded in 1994 and is composed of nine members elected by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey
. RTÜK is located in Ankara
and maintains local offices in İstanbul
, İzmir
, Adana
, Diyarbakır
, and Van
.
's video clip
for the song Sarışınım, on grounds of "violating the national and moral values of the community and Turkish family structure" (RTÜK Law Art. 4/e), "obscenity" (ibid. 4/t), and "impairing the physical, mental, and moral development of young people and children" (ibid. 4/z).
Among foreign productions sanctioned by RTÜK for similar rationales are Wild Things 3, Nip/Tuck
, and Gossip Girl
. In September 2009, RTÜK banned the broadcasting of the video clip for the song Love Sex Magic
, stating that the video "contains sexual outfits, dancing and scenes that are contrary to the development of children and youth and morality in general."
RTÜK also imposes closure orders on TV and radio stations on the grounds that they have made separatist broadcasts. A verdict of high international profile was the banning of Turkish language programmes of BBC World Service
and Deutsche Welle
on the grounds that they "threatened national security."
Critics claim that verdicts of RTÜK resulted in excessive self-censorship
of broadcasters.
education started in USA and then in some European countries. In Turkey, RTÜK started this project with the help of Ministry of Education in 2006. The aim of media literacy education is to help children read and evaluate the messages of media, radio, television and internet.
This education provides children to see correct perception of media messages, to critically analyze messages, to make difference between `reality` and `fiction`, to be aware stirring effects of both programs and advertises. Thus, by building awareness of using media messages, media literacy education helps children in conscious media consumption and then contributions.
This education is open for elementary school kids, but it is not compulsory. All the necessary materials are prepared by RTÜK.
In Turkey, smart signs introduced by RTÜK in order to protect children and youth from the harmful effects of television programs. In 2006, broadcasters started to use smart signs voluntarily. However in 2011, with the new amendment in RTÜK law it became compulsory.
Smart signs system informs people about the content of program. This system helps parents, broadcasters and other people to protect children and youth from harmful effects of different programs. Two things are given about the program, one is about the possible harmful contents and the other is about age groups.
The possible harmful contents of program are determined as violence, horror, indecent and obscene, behaviors to be as bad examples such as addiction to alcohol, heavy smoking or drugs, discrimination, illegal acts vulgar expression /cursing. Age groups are determined according to the influence by the program as in 4 groups: general audience, 7 or up, 13 or up and 18 or up.
A questionnaire is prepared to determine what kind of possible harmful content a program might have and what age groups should view the program. The questionnaire can be accessed from the ‘Sample Coding Form’ title. This form is filled electronically for all programs in the classification system by those assigned by the broadcasting institutions, having certificate on coding along with a pre- training on the system. The results of the questionnaire can be automatically produced when filled.
In order to determine a program’s harmful contents and appropriate age groups to view it, the symbols are used. These 7 symbols are:
These icons can be accompanied by any of the following subratings:
This project requires that all national TV channels broadcast cartoon animations reminding kids the sleep time after 21.30 in the nights. Within the three animations, the message of ‘goodnight kids’, ‘lets go sleep kids’ and ‘it is enough TV for today, goodnight to all kids’ is delivered to all kids.
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
state agency for monitoring, regulating, and sanctioning radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
broadcasts. RTÜK was founded in 1994 and is composed of nine members elected by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey
Grand National Assembly of Turkey
The Grand National Assembly of Turkey , usually referred to simply as the Meclis , is the unicameral Turkish legislature. It is the sole body given the legislative prerogatives by the Turkish Constitution. It was founded in Ankara on 23 April 1920 in the midst of the Turkish War of Independence...
. RTÜK is located in Ankara
Ankara
Ankara is the capital of Turkey and the country's second largest city after Istanbul. The city has a mean elevation of , and as of 2010 the metropolitan area in the entire Ankara Province had a population of 4.4 million....
and maintains local offices in İstanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
, İzmir
Izmir
Izmir is a large metropolis in the western extremity of Anatolia. The metropolitan area in the entire Izmir Province had a population of 3.35 million as of 2010, making the city third most populous in Turkey...
, Adana
Adana
Adana is a city in southern Turkey and a major agricultural and commercial center. The city is situated on the Seyhan River, 30 kilometres inland from the Mediterranean, in south-central Anatolia...
, Diyarbakır
Diyarbakır
Diyarbakır is one of the largest cities in southeastern Turkey...
, and Van
Van, Turkey
Van is a city in southeastern Turkey and the seat of the Kurdish-majority Van Province, and is located on the eastern shore of Lake Van. The city's official population in 2010 was 367,419, but many estimates put this as much higher with a 1996 estimate stating 500,000 and former Mayor Burhan...
.
Verdicts
RTÜK is known for sanctioning the broadcasts of a large number of domestic productions, such as GülşenGülşen
Gülşen is a Turkish given name for females. People named Gülşen include:* Gülşen Bayraktar, Turkish pop singer* Gülşen Bubikoğlu, Turkish actress* Gülşen Degener, Turkish carom billiards player...
's video clip
Video clip
Video clips are short clips of video, usually part of a longer recording. The term is also more loosely used to mean any short video less than the length of a traditional television program.- On the Internet :...
for the song Sarışınım, on grounds of "violating the national and moral values of the community and Turkish family structure" (RTÜK Law Art. 4/e), "obscenity" (ibid. 4/t), and "impairing the physical, mental, and moral development of young people and children" (ibid. 4/z).
Among foreign productions sanctioned by RTÜK for similar rationales are Wild Things 3, Nip/Tuck
Nip/Tuck
Nip/Tuck is an American drama series created by Ryan Murphy, which aired on FX in the United States. The series focuses on McNamara/Troy, a plastic surgery practice, and follows its founders, Sean McNamara and Christian Troy...
, and Gossip Girl
Gossip Girl (TV series)
Gossip Girl is an American teen drama television series based on the book series of the same name written by Cecily von Ziegesar. The series was created by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, and premiered on The CW on September 19, 2007...
. In September 2009, RTÜK banned the broadcasting of the video clip for the song Love Sex Magic
Love Sex Magic
"Love Sex Magic" is a song performed by American recording artist Ciara, taken from her third studio album, Fantasy Ride. Featuring fellow American recording artist Justin Timberlake, the song was written by Timberlake and his production team The Y's, as well as Ciara and Mike Elizondo. The Y's and...
, stating that the video "contains sexual outfits, dancing and scenes that are contrary to the development of children and youth and morality in general."
RTÜK also imposes closure orders on TV and radio stations on the grounds that they have made separatist broadcasts. A verdict of high international profile was the banning of Turkish language programmes of BBC World Service
BBC World Service
The BBC World Service is the world's largest international broadcaster, broadcasting in 27 languages to many parts of the world via analogue and digital shortwave, internet streaming and podcasting, satellite, FM and MW relays...
and Deutsche Welle
Deutsche Welle
Deutsche Welle or DW, is Germany's international broadcaster. The service is aimed at the overseas market. It broadcasts news and information on shortwave, Internet and satellite radio on 98.7 DZFE in 30 languages . It has a satellite television service , that is available in four languages, and...
on the grounds that they "threatened national security."
Critics claim that verdicts of RTÜK resulted in excessive self-censorship
Self-censorship
Self-censorship is the act of censoring or classifying one's own work , out of fear of, or deference to, the sensibilities of others, without overt pressure from any specific party or institution of authority...
of broadcasters.
RTÜK and Children
Most of the RTUK's verdicts are for the aim of providing safety media landscape for children. Besides the regulations,, RTUK leads some projects to protect kids and to help parents in media environment. These projects are:- Media LiteracyMedia literacyMedia literacy is a repertoire of competences that enable people to analyze, evaluate, and create messages in a wide variety of media modes, genres, and forms.-Education:...
(Medya okur-yazarligi) - Smart Signs (Akilli Isaretler)
- Safety Internet (Internet Guvenligi)
- Good Night Kids (Iyi Uykular Cocuklar)
Media Literacy
With the information age, media literacyMedia literacy
Media literacy is a repertoire of competences that enable people to analyze, evaluate, and create messages in a wide variety of media modes, genres, and forms.-Education:...
education started in USA and then in some European countries. In Turkey, RTÜK started this project with the help of Ministry of Education in 2006. The aim of media literacy education is to help children read and evaluate the messages of media, radio, television and internet.
This education provides children to see correct perception of media messages, to critically analyze messages, to make difference between `reality` and `fiction`, to be aware stirring effects of both programs and advertises. Thus, by building awareness of using media messages, media literacy education helps children in conscious media consumption and then contributions.
This education is open for elementary school kids, but it is not compulsory. All the necessary materials are prepared by RTÜK.
Smart Signs
Smart Signs are also very common in many countries.In Turkey, smart signs introduced by RTÜK in order to protect children and youth from the harmful effects of television programs. In 2006, broadcasters started to use smart signs voluntarily. However in 2011, with the new amendment in RTÜK law it became compulsory.
Smart signs system informs people about the content of program. This system helps parents, broadcasters and other people to protect children and youth from harmful effects of different programs. Two things are given about the program, one is about the possible harmful contents and the other is about age groups.
The possible harmful contents of program are determined as violence, horror, indecent and obscene, behaviors to be as bad examples such as addiction to alcohol, heavy smoking or drugs, discrimination, illegal acts vulgar expression /cursing. Age groups are determined according to the influence by the program as in 4 groups: general audience, 7 or up, 13 or up and 18 or up.
A questionnaire is prepared to determine what kind of possible harmful content a program might have and what age groups should view the program. The questionnaire can be accessed from the ‘Sample Coding Form’ title. This form is filled electronically for all programs in the classification system by those assigned by the broadcasting institutions, having certificate on coding along with a pre- training on the system. The results of the questionnaire can be automatically produced when filled.
In order to determine a program’s harmful contents and appropriate age groups to view it, the symbols are used. These 7 symbols are:
- General Audience
- For 7 or up
- For 13 or up
- For 18 or up
These icons can be accompanied by any of the following subratings:
- Sex
- Horror and/or Violence
- Inappropriate Material -refers to drug/alcohol/tobacco use, profanity/crude language, etc.
Safety Internet
Internet safety is another important issue for the parents. Today, internet usage is starting in early age and the content has no limit. This makes people open to harmful effects of inappropriate contents. In its internet site, RTÜK informs both kids and parents about the importance of safety use of internet and provides security software.Goodnight Kids
The Goodnight Kids (Iyi Uykular Cocuklar) project which is prepared by RTÜK and The Association of Television Broadcasting aims to have the pre and primary school kids earn the early sleeping habit, to provide the parents’ effectiveness and sensitivity in this regards and to protect the kids from possible harmful influences of late hour TV watching.This project requires that all national TV channels broadcast cartoon animations reminding kids the sleep time after 21.30 in the nights. Within the three animations, the message of ‘goodnight kids’, ‘lets go sleep kids’ and ‘it is enough TV for today, goodnight to all kids’ is delivered to all kids.