HISTORY
The Bursa Journalists’ Association (“Bursa Gazeteciler Cemiyeti”) was founded in 1947.
Musa Ataş was elected chairman of the first Board of the Bursa Journalists’ Association, which started its activities under the initiative of Musa Ataş, Faruk Taşkıran, Derviş Edesen, Lütfi Can, Dr Suat Mesut Özbudak and Haydar Ömer Onur. Also Müfit Ataç, İsmet Bozdağ, Sabahattin Cıracıoğlu, Baki Güzey, Haşim Nezihi Okay, İsmail Gerçeksöz, Ali Galip İkiz, İbrahim Altıntaş, Sadrettin Çanga, İsmet Tanca, Derviş Sami Taşman, İbrahim Kaner and Hüseyin Özeren were involved in the foundation of this association.

The association’s first building was a quite small place located at the first floor of the Mountain Climbers’ Club, in the neighbourhood of the “Romance” tea garden where today “Koza Café” is located.

In order to comply with the amendments made on March 30, 1964 to the Law on Associations, our association was given a new legal identity, under the leadership of Musa Ataş, Mustafa Tayla, Derviş Sami Taşman, Sabri Türkozan and Hayri Terzioğlu. Thus, the Bursa Journalists’ Association’s aim had been defined to be as follows: ”To protect both honour and self-respect of journalism, and to provide solidarity and mutual help between all journalists, in representation of all journalists who work in Bursa”.

The Association which keeps on working on the basis of their foundation objectives organizes conferences, panel discussions, seminars and investigation excursions with the aim to “help all journalists to improve their intellectual capabilities with respect to thinking and profession-related issues”. Furthermore, it has taken all necessary measures for its members in order to enable them to “carry out all activities relating to their profession”.

During the term when M. Nuri Kolaylı was Chairman of the Board, the Bursa Journalists’ Association achieved a successful work by initiating the construction of the “Press & Cultural Centre” (“Basın Kültür Sarayı”) in Bursa’s Ataevler quarter. The foundation of this Centre was laid in March 2004, and the building was finished and opened to the public within less than two years of construction. It is the first “Press & Cultural Centre” in Turkey, so it reflects the power of the Bursa press with both its social and cultural fields of activity.

The construction of the six-floor high “Press & Cultural Centre” has been finished as a monument of honour of both the Bursa Journalists’ Association and the city of Bursa. The building comprises an underground car park with a 300 vehicles capacity, a theatre hall for 500 spectators, fast-food areas, two big assembly halls, the “Akkılıç Library”, the Press Museum, a restaurant, a bar, various shopping facilities and a terrace which is used during the summer season.

Until today, the chairmanship of the Association was executed - in consecutive order – by Musa Ataş, Hayri Terzioğlu, Ramazan Arif Karaarslan, Mustafa Tayla, Necati Akgün, Saruhan Ayber, Nazır Özsöz, Aziz Bükey, İbrahim İşsevenler, Aykan Uzoğuz and Tahsin Ardıç.

At present, the chairmanship of the Bursa Journalists’ Association is held by M. Nuri Kolaylı.