Activities performed by the Bursa Journalists’ Association

Contest determining “The Successful Journalists of the Year”

A contest is organized every year for all journalists who are working in Bursa. It is organized with the aim to encourage the journalists’ endeavours and to reward their successful professional work. The categories of this contest are: Newspaper news, Photograph, Reportage, Research & Investigation, Layout and Column.

Training courses for our members

Within the understanding of profession-related solidarity, the Bursa Journalists’ Association organizes different courses as requested by its members.

Protest marsh in commemoration of Uğur Mumcu (January 24)

Uğur Mumcu, the period’s editorial writer of the “Cumhuriyet Gazetesi” newspaper, one of the master writers within the profession of journalism, who was assassinated on January 24, 1993, is commemorated every year in events and activities organized by the Bursa Journalists’ Association. The traditionally organized Uğur Mumcu Commemoration Ceremony is held by making a protest marsh in which both journalists and the public participate, carrying banners and slogans complying with the profession’s principles, as well as photographs of Uğur Mumcu.

Journalists’ Solidarity Day (January 10)

Every January 10 is celebrated as the Working Journalists’ Day, by virtue of the anniversary of the coming into force of law no. 212 amending the “Law on the Regulation concerning the Relations between the Press Employees and their Employers”. January 10 is celebrated every year by the Bursa Journalists’ Association performing different events and activities.

Press Solidarity Night (July 24)

On July 24, 1908, the application of censorship to the Turkish press had been abolished, and from these years onwards, this date is celebrated as the Press Holiday. Due to this, the Bursa Journalists’ Association every year organizes a special dinner-meeting for its members, in order to celebrate July 24, the Press Holiday.

Bursa Discussions

Four times a year, the Bursa Journalists’ Association organizes a panel entitled “Bursa Discussions” which comprises various subjects concerning the city of Bursa, in which both specialized persons and experts participate, and which is open to the public. The complete content of these panels is published in the “Bursa Defteri” (“Bursa Booklet”)’s related issue.

Cultural “Bur-Def” Excursions

Four times a year, the Bursa Journalists’ Association organizes excursions with a cultural purpose. These excursions are published as excursion notes in the “Bursa Defteri” (“Bursa Booklet”)’s related issue.

Our traditional evening meal during Ramadan

One evening during the Ramadan, every year, an evening meal is organized for our Association’s members.

Our traditional spring picnic

Every year in spring (April or May), a picnic is organized for the members of the Bursa Journalists’ Association, with the aim to increase social solidarity.

Operation of the municipal Wedding Hall

The renting of the Wedding Hall of the Municipality of Nilüfer (Bursa) which is located within the “Press & Cultural Centre” (“Basın Kültür Sarayı”), and the operation of both photographing and video recording are managed by the Bursa Journalists’ Association.

Social assistance

The Bursa Journalists’ Association supports its members in various ways, with the aim to provide social assistance to them. These supports comprise assistance for weddings, at births, decease, and for unemployment, as well as scholarships for university students.

Publications

Every year both at the Ramadan and the Sacrifice Feast, the Bursa Journalists’ Association publishes the “Marmara Bayram Gazetesi” (a newspaper for the Marmara Region being published for the related feast). The “BGC Bülteni” (“BGC Bulletin”) and the “Bursa Defteri” (“Bursa Booklet”) are published quarterly as the Association’s organ.

The “Bursa Encyclopaedia” comprising a total of four volumes is among these publications, too.

Ongoing projects

The endeavours concerning the Bursa Press Museum and the “Akkılıç Library” which will be located at the “Press & Cultural Centre” (“Basın Kültür Sarayı”) are carried on.

The goal of the Bursa Press Museum is to reflect the press history in Bursa, which changed and developed until today, starting with Bursa’s first newspaper, “Hüdavendigar”.

With its approx. 6,000 books and its historical documents of a unique value, the “Akkılıç Library” which is planned to become Turkey’s most comprehensive district library, will be opened to researchers.