New Media Presence in the Integration Process of Refugees in Istanbul


TUFAN F., Olendzki J.

İletişim Kuram ve Araştırma Dergisi, cilt.2019, sa.49, ss.90-106, 2019 (Hakemli Dergi) identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 2019 Sayı: 49
  • Basım Tarihi: 2019
  • Dergi Adı: İletişim Kuram ve Araştırma Dergisi
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.90-106
  • İstanbul Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

With the advancement of new media applications and creative technologies aimingto help integration process of refugees in their newfound asylums, this article focuses onexploring the existing communicational habits of refugees in new media, and the possibilitiesthat new media offer to ease their integration with the Turkish society in Istanbul. The studyanalyzes results drawn from in-depth interviews conducted with a varied group of refugeesliving in Istanbul, examining their interaction with new media concerning key aspectsthat aid their integration with the local community. Such aspects revolve around mattersof personal rights, education, cultural identity, employment, and finding acceptance.Moreover, considering the technological potential offered by new media, this researchcontemplates the level of connection between the refugees and their home countries. Theresearch presents a qualitative study of 8 refugees from Syria, Iran, and Afghanistan thatare currently living in Istanbul. Apart from the interview with 8 refugees, within the scopeof the study, Aline Joubert, the media relations coordinator of “Small Projects Istanbul”which is a non-governmental organization working for the benefit of refugees, was alsointerviewed. The purpose of the study is to investigate the communicational habits and theways for new media usage of refugees throughout the process of integrating with the localsociety.