Kadin Magazine – a Turkish community media innovation in the Netherlands
Kadin Magazine,
a bilingual publication with articles in Dutch and
Turkish, was launched in the Netherlands as a
multicultural media initiative in April 2008, with a
monthly circulation of 12,000.
Kadin, which means woman in Turkish, is written for and
by Turkish women between the ages of 16 and 60 who live
in the Netherlands and support the publication’s upbeat
message on the benefits of diversity to Dutch society.
''”We want to inform Turkish women of the possibilities
Dutch society has to offer them,'' says chief editor
Ebubekir Turgut. ''As Turkish women often only read Turkish
newspapers and watch Turkish television, they have a
limited knowledge of news and opinions in their own
Dutch society. We want to inform them of the
developments in Dutch society that are relevant to
them.''
''Successful, modern Turkish women are underrepresented
in the Dutch media,'' said Nuray Bossink-Tuna, a
journalist for the magazine. ''Older generations are more
difficult to reach, but the younger generation of
Turkish women are open to change their lifestyle and
become more integrated in Dutch community.
''With Kadin Magazine we want to show these women that
they can be successful by portraying Turkish women who
have achieved great things in their respective fields.
Women such as Nebahat Albayrak, the state secretary in
the current Dutch cabinet, serve as a role model for all
Turkish women.''
Ms Bossink-Tuna emigrated from Turkey to the Netherlands
three and a half years ago. Despite 10 years of teaching
and a Masters degree in Nutrition Sciences, Nuray still
cannot find a suitable job, underlining the difficulties
experienced by immigrants in the Netherlands.
''I am not eligible for the same level of work I
practised in Turkey,'' Ms Bossink-Tuna revealed. ''I have
noticed a certain hesitance when Dutch employers learn I
am a Turkish immigrant. This form of discrimination is a
big problem for many immigrants in the Netherlands.''
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