Journalism under Digital Authoritarianism in Turkey: Press Freedom, Legal Pressure, and Adaptive Practices

This thesis examines the political, legal, and algorithmic pressures confronting journalists in Turkey under digital authoritarianism, along with the coping and adaptation mechanisms they have created in response to these challenges. The increased authoritarian measures following the 2017 constitutional referendum and the transition to a presidential system, characterized by the centralization of executive power and the institutionalization of restrictions on freedom of expression, have imposed an increasingly authoritarian regime on journalism in both traditional and digital spheres. In this context, YouTube, X (Twitter), and independent digital news platforms have emerged as both arenas of technological innovation for journalists and domains that require adaptation and survival under the decline of mainstream media, economic vulnerabilities, and legal pressures. The study examines the various pressures faced by journalists in digital media due to social media regulations, the "disinformation law," algorithmic visibility frameworks, and judicial penalties, as well as the strategies they employ, including content creation, visibility management, self-censorship, and professional solidarity in response to these challenges. This thesis employs an interpretive and primarily qualitative methodological framework to analyze data from semi-structured in-depth interviews through thematic analysis. It provides an empirical and analytical contribution to the literature on digital authoritarianism by conceptualizing digital journalism as both a "space under pressure" and a dynamic environment where journalists navigate authoritarian influences in their daily practices.