Northwest Anatolian Press in the National Struggle: the Açıksöz Newspaper

At the beginning of the 20th century mass communication was limited, thus in this period informing people could be done thanks to newspapers. In this regard, the Anatolian press played a great role in enlightening the Anatolian people during the National Struggle and providing support to this movement. As a result of the censorship of the Istanbul press, the regional newspapers, in a way, fulfilled the task of Istanbul newspapers. One of the most important of these local newspapers is Açıksöz newspaper. This paper focuses on both the publishing activities of Açıksöz Newspaper, which was published in Kastamonu as the voice of Northwest Anatolia during the National Struggle, and the efforts of newspaper owners and writers who took part in the Kuvâ-yı Milliye movement (irregular Anatolian militia forces). In this regard, this study deals with the reactions given in various towns of Northwest Anatolia against the occupation of İzmir by the Greeks and the occupation of Maras, Antep and Urfa by the French, and the announcement of these reactions to both the domestic public and the officials of American and European states by Açıksöz newspaper. Besides that, the study discusses the interviews of Açıksöz newspaper writers and reporters with ambassadors and delegations of Turkish-friendly governments. This paper also focuses on the efforts of the publishing and writing staff of the Açıksöz newspaper in the National Struggle movement. Finally, this study assesses the impacts of the Second İnönü, Sakarya, Great Offensive and August 30 Victories in Northwest Anatolia, which the Turkish army won in the National Struggle, and the perspective of Açıksöz newspaper on the subject.

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