Sweeping the Traces of Habermasian Public Sphere in University Radio Stations: A Research from Turkey

Abstract

This study focuses on freedom of expression among university radio stations in Turkey. Our aim is to reveal the obstacles university radio stations face in speaking freely and to propose a solution to them. We take our conceptual framework from the Habermasian public sphere and focus on the practice of speaking on the radio. Using a qualitative analysis method, we conducted in-depth interviews with the managers of 34 university radio stations in 21 different cities in Turkey. We found that there are many obstacles to freedom of speech facing university radio stations in Turkey.