A Critical Study of Street Interview Content in Syrian Media in Türkiye

Street interviews, in their various forms, have provided citizens with a platform to express their opinions, often incorporating entertaining content. These interviews gained popularity as game shows or hidden camera programs and became an integral part of television broadcasting due to their high financial returns. With the advent of satellite broadcasting and social media, street interviews transitioned to platforms like YouTube. In Türkiye, they attracted significant attention after the 2019 municipal elections, focusing on citizens' concerns, particularly regarding Syrian refugees. In response, Syrian media outlets in Türkiye, including Syria TV, launched “counter” street interviews, capturing the opinions of Arabs, Syrians, and Turkish citizens on various social and historical issues. This article aims to examine the content of the "Street Question" program on Syria TV and track the shift in its content towards Turkish society over the study's specified timeframe. According to the findings, the program initially aimed to promote familiarity and integration with Turkish society by exploring shared history and cultural traditions. However, it evolved into “defensive” content concerning Syrian refugees in Türkiye, focusing on debunking rumors associated with them. It provided Arab and Syrian audiences with a glimpse into Turkish societal perceptions without the need for direct interaction. This raises important questions about the role of recent street interviews in shaping the perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors of Arabic-speaking audiences, especially Syrians, towards Turkish society and how these perceptions reflect on the overall view of Türkiye.