Sözcü

About Sözcü

Sözcü is a daily Turkish newspaper established on June 27, 2007, and is positioned as a prominent media entity within the Turkish market. The company was founded by Burak Akbay, a Turkish businessman who began his career by establishing a printing press in Istanbul before entering the publishing world. Akbay, born in Istanbul in 1971, pursued higher education in Marketing and Business Administration at the American College of Switzerland. The newspaper's origins trace back to the closure of Gözcü newspaper in April 2007, after which its name rights were acquired, and it was relaunched as Sözcü.

The media group operates under the publisher Estetik Yayın A.Ş. and maintains a staunchly secular, nationalist, and Kemalist political alignment, which advocates for the principles of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. This editorial stance has defined its market position, attracting a readership that shares these values and establishing it as a critical voice towards the incumbent government. The company's business model relies on revenue from newspaper sales and advertising. Starting with an initial circulation of around 60,000, Sözcü's readership grew significantly, making it one of the top-selling newspapers in Turkey. By 2014, it was the second-largest newspaper in the country by circulation.

Sözcü provides national news coverage through its print edition, a digital platform (sozcu.com.tr), and an e-newspaper format. Its content spans general news, politics, finance, and sports. The organization has expanded its media portfolio to include other publications like the Korkusuz newspaper and, more recently, launched Sözcü TV (SZC TV) in 2023. The group also publishes an edition specifically for the Turkish diaspora in Western Europe, printed in Germany. The newspaper is recognized for its prominent columnists, including writers like Emin Çölaşan and Uğur Dündar, who contribute to its critical editorial voice.