Approaches of the Western Press toward the Ottoman State and Reactions of the Ottomans to These Approaches

The rising press in modern times, and especially newspapers, started to follow and affect the events taking place in sates, in a national and international basis. European press started to affect people in the seventeenth century, and newspapers, developing in the eighteenth century, successfully pursued governmental affairs, communal developments and cultural, military and economical activities in the nineteenth century. Information, news, opinions and analyzes presented in publications, which came out daily, few days a week, weekly, few days a month and monthly, helped to shape public opinion. Such publications have made rulers work either easier or more difficult. Publications of European newspapers concerning the Ottoman administration had generally been negative and contained heavy critics and accusations. In order to fight against these ‘harmful’ publications, the Ottoman government attempted to prohibit them, deny allegations, and present their own views.