SEECI

Revista de Comunicación de la SEECI (2027).

ISSN: 1576-3420

Esta obra está bajo una licencia internacional Creative Commons Atribución-NoComercial 4.0.

Received: September 25, 2026 --- Accepted: December 22, 2025 --- Early Publication: July 3, 2026 Publication: January 1, 2027

Fear, drama, and reality:
The presentation of the "Newborn Gang" news in Turkey

Özlem Bariş:

Ostim Technical University. Turkey.

ozlem.baris@ostimteknik.edu.tr

Segah Yeşilyurt:

Ondokuz Mayıs University. Turkey.

segah.yesilyurt@omu.edu.tr

Bünyamin Uzun:

Yozgat Bozok University. Turkey.

bunyamin.uzun@bozok.edu.tr

How to cite this article:

Bariş, Özlem; Yeşilyurt, Segah & Uzun, Bünyamin (2027). Fear, drama, and reality: The presentation of the "Newborn Gang" news in Turkey. Revista de Comunicación de la SEECI, 60, 1-20. https://doi.org/10.15198/seeci.2027.60.e947

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Child journalism requires careful use of language in both traditional media and social media. When problematic language is used in news stories involving children, the child as the subject of the news story becomes mediatized and the incident is further emphasized. The discourse constructed in the news shapes public perception of children. On social media platforms, children are often portrayed as vulnerable, leading to negative representation. Methodology: To analyze how the incident was represented in the media, this study conducted a netnographic analysis of the X accounts of Pusholder, a social media news platform; Habertürk.com, an online news website; and Hürriyet, a print and online newspaper. News articles from April 27, 2024, to February 1, 2025, were analyzed using MAXQDA 2020 qualitative analysis software. Findings: According to the research findings, babies were portrayed as victims of violence in the news. In addition, news about gang members was presented in a dramatized manner. Discussion: It was determined that news about the gang responsible for the babies' deaths was exaggerated. This, it was observed, fueled the dissemination and normalization of the topic on social media. Conclusions: The news commonly showed the individualization/personalization and mediatization of aspects related to the violence of the incident.

Keywords: newborn; infant; infant mortality; news; Turkish media.

1. INTRODUCTION

Child journalism requires the careful use of language in both traditional and social media. Due to the inherent characteristics of children, their representation in the media must prioritize children's rights and their well-being. Traditional and social media journalism rank among the fields that allocate limited space to the representation of children (Adedokun, 2025). Moreover, in recent years, children have frequently appeared in news reports as defenseless, vulnerable to abuse, exposed to violence, deprived of their rights, and stripped of their privacy. This trend has led to the negative portrayal of children in the media (Katz & Cohnen, 2021).

When problematic language is used in news reports involving children, the child as the subject of the news becomes mediatized, and the incident is further emphasized. The discourse constructed in news reports shapes public perceptions of children. On social media platforms, children are often framed as vulnerable, leading to a negative representation (Ponte et al., 2009). This perception fosters public anxiety and concern, reinforcing the notion that children are susceptible to abuse. Additionally, the media's depiction of violence and abuse against children can reshape reality and trigger trauma.

Social media platforms, with their ability to reach broad audiences, facilitate the rapid dissemination of news stories in which children are featured. This allows social media journalism to serve as a platform for parents seeking justice for their children and themselves, as well as for shaping public opinion. Specifically, campaigns, petitions, and repeated discussions of an issue in the media contribute to the concretization of the problem or the public revelation of traumatic events.

The primary aim of this study is to examine the ways in which children are represented in social media journalism within the context of the “Newborn Gang” incident that took place in Turkey. The "Newborn Gang" refers to a case where certain private hospitals allegedly subjected newborns to unnecessary medical treatments and intensive care for financial gain, leading to the reported deaths of 12 infants. This incident, which has been brought before the judiciary, has been widely covered in both traditional and social media. The use of violent language concerning children in these reports constitutes the focus of this research.

To analyze how the incident was represented in the media, this study conducted a netnographic analysis of the X accounts of Pusholder, a social media news platform; Habertürk.com, an online news website; and Hürriyet, a print and online newspaper. Employing the non-participant observation technique as part of the netnographic method, digital data were gathered for this study. News articles from April 27, 2024, to February 1, 2025, were analyzed using the MAXQDA 2020 qualitative analysis software. The findings reveal that children were infrequently depicted as victims of violence in the news. Additionally, reports concerning the gang responsible for the infants' deaths were found to be highly dramatized. Furthermore, the news commonly exhibited individualization /personalization and mediatization of the violence-related aspects of the incident.

Violence against children in the media is conveyed using problematic language. This study differs from other studies in that it examines infant deaths in news stories about the “Newborn Gang” in terms of media language. The study found that the news stories examined did not emphasize the deprivation of the life rights of the babies who lost their lives, but rather highlighted the economic aspect of the incident. In this respect, it contributed to the field by identifying problematic representations of child violence in the media and how they trivialize the right to life of babies who have lost their lives.

2. OBJECTIVES

Child-centered journalism aims to highlight children's rights and the challenges they face, drawing attention to rights violations and fostering awareness. This journalistic approach emphasizes reporting in a manner that does not exacerbate children's victimization, ensuring that they are actively represented in media content regarding their own issues and in positive narratives. However, the media often portrays children either as victims or perpetrators, neglecting their rights. As a result, journalism that disregards children's real experiences and reinforces societal prejudices ultimately overlooks their individual identities, constituting a violation of their rights.

The representation of children in the media is a critical issue that requires careful consideration. Frequently, children are depicted using problematic journalistic language, which shapes societal perceptions of them. Negative portrayals and ethical violations in the media can have detrimental effects on children's lives and futures. Such representations can generate negative consequences for both children and the media (Arslan & Topal, 2021).

The concept of childhood, as defined by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, includes individuals up to the age of 18. However, cases of early adulthood fall outside this definition. This distinction acknowledges that children at different age levels have specific responsibilities and duties appropriate to their developmental stages. Consequently, children should be considered as individuals with their own rights and responsibilities (Arslan & Topal, 2021). Notably, the age boundaries defining childhood vary across countries. For instance, in some African nations, individuals in their twenties may still be classified as children (Dyikuk, 2018).

Postman (1995), in his seminal work The Disappearance of Childhood, asserts that childhood is not a biological condition but a social construct. Child-centered journalism involves considering children's rights, as defined in legal frameworks and international conventions, during news production and presentation (Fırat, 2016, 824). This approach prioritizes children's welfare and ensures that they are represented as individuals in news stories. Additionally, child-centered journalism possesses several defining characteristics (Ulusoy, 2019).

This journalistic approach addresses events involving children within the framework of states' responsibilities toward children's rights. News that raises awareness of children's rights and freedoms is of paramount importance. Furthermore, reports on children's rights violations contribute to making such abuses visible and play an active role in the formulation of policies to address these issues. When reporting on rights violations, it is crucial to present the information without further victimizing the child. Additionally, children should be included in media content related to their concerns, ensuring that they play an active role in positive narratives. Moreover, journalists should carefully consider how news about children might impact them and adopt a child-centered perspective when crafting content (Salman, 2019).

The complex relationship between media and children's rights can be examined from two main perspectives. First, the media often fails to adequately recognize and prioritize children's rights. Since untrained journalists may struggle to uphold these rights, it is crucial for them to receive education on child rights issues. The second dimension relates to the structural dynamics of the media, where economic and political interests, power relations, and media monopolization influence journalistic processes. These factors shape news content based on commercial concerns, blurring the lines between journalism and entertainment (Tosun, 2012). Children experience rights violations depending on cultural definitions of childhood and political regimes. The media, through its organizational structures and editorial processes, serves as a mechanism that reproduces and constructs these violations. Furthermore, such violations are shaped within the hegemonic role of the media and its claims to objectivity (Alankuş, 2012).

By engaging in child-centered journalism, the media contributes to children's social participation and fosters public awareness of children's rights. This type of journalism amplifies children's voices and highlights the significance of their rights (Onat & Akço, 2012). In news coverage, children are often portrayed as victims, perpetrators, or helpless figures in tragic events such as violence, abuse, accidents, murder, abduction, or criminal activities. They are commonly depicted as passive or dangerous (Salman, 2019). News stories about children emphasize their experiences and encourage readers to empathize with them, presenting them as individuals prone to mistakes or at risk. Such stories frequently focus on conflicts, accidents, and disputes (Ponte, 2005). The media's portrayal of children as innocent, weak, or problematic contributes to overlooking their individual identities and reinforcing societal biases. As Alankuş (2012) notes, the lack of adequate representation of children in the media, as well as their absence from positive news stories, constitutes a rights violation. Therefore, constructive journalism should include narratives that highlight children as role models or problem solvers, support affirmative action policies, and contribute to positive solutions (Alankuş, 2012).

Society's perception of children as innocent and vulnerable leads the media to use them as subjects for emotionally charged and attention-grabbing news. This tendency disregards children's genuine emotions, thoughts, and experiences, fostering stereotypes that reinforce biases (Koman & Özkan, 2018).

A journalism approach that is sensitive to children's rights acknowledges them as individuals with rights and freedoms, focusing on their subjective representation while considering their unique circumstances. This perspective aims to understand children's challenges and experiences within the framework of states' obligations regarding child rights. Accordingly, child-centered journalism seeks to raise awareness of children's rights and freedoms. In addition to exposing rights violations, it makes these issues visible to the public, fostering societal impact and contributing to policy development. One of the most critical aspects of reporting on child rights violations is ensuring that the child is not further victimized through insensitive or unethical reporting. Thus, a child-centered and considerate journalistic approach aims to amplify children's voices while safeguarding their protection and development.

2.1. Children's news and violence

There is a significant body of research on the representation of children in the media. According to these studies, news about children is disseminated through various sources. The media often adopts a reactive approach to reporting on children, responding only to existing problems rather than actively incorporating children’s perspectives. Consequently, children are not sufficiently represented in news content. A study conducted by the Child Rights Alliance for England (CRAE) on the media representation of children revealed that they are often portrayed as troublemakers, deviants, or victims. The study identified two primary ways in which children are represented in news stories: first, as victims; second, as perpetrators. Children depicted as victims are generally described as passive, vulnerable, innocent, angelic, and often stereotypically represented with blonde hair and blue eyes. On the other hand, children represented as perpetrators are often depicted as carrying sharp weapons, being threatening, or wearing masks. Research conducted in Serbia indicates that 72% of media representations of children portray them as passive. Furthermore, according to this study, children are often represented in a superficial and conventional manner, transforming them into sensational themes (Mensa et al., 2025).

In 2004, the Media Monitoring Project collaborated with Sweden and UNICEF on an initiative aimed at empowering both children and the media within the context of South African media. The project participants analyzed over 22,000 news items containing references to children from 36 different media outlets (including print, radio, and television) between March and May 2003. The findings indicated that children were predominantly reported as victims and appeared in only 6% of news headlines, with most of these headlines being crime-related. According to the study, children in news stories were central figures in incidents of conflict, accidents, abuse, and violence, yet they remained passive actors within these narratives (Oyero, 2010). Between 1999 and 2003, a content analysis of child rights stories in Nigerian newspapers was conducted. The results of this research indicated that child rights issues were relegated to the inner pages of newspapers. Consequently, it was observed that the media, in its agenda-setting function, often overlooked the personal stories of children.

A study examining representations of child sexuality in Nigeria found that newspapers predominantly focused on negative stories, such as rape or other forms of sexual violence (Nurhasanah & Sogiri, 2022). This suggests that the media reinforces negative perceptions of children’s bodily autonomy. Additionally, sharing private information and images of individuals, including children, without their consent constitutes a legal offense. The frequent inclusion of violence-related themes in children's news contributes to the normalization of violence and negatively impacts body image perceptions. This phenomenon is further reinforced by the significant space crime reporting occupies in contemporary media. Crime reporters provide extensive details about ongoing cases in television programs, and newspapers tend to allocate more pages to crime stories. However, increasing the prevalence of positive content in news featuring children can enhance public awareness and foster a better understanding of children's rights and needs. Within the framework of social responsibility, the media should adopt a more balanced and constructive approach in its coverage of children (Adedokun, 2025).

In the 2003 Media Monitoring Project (MMP), the representation of children and the extent to which their rights were respected in South African news media were analyzed (Adedokun, 2025). The study’s findings highlighted that children were significantly underrepresented in the media. More than 25% of the cases analyzed portrayed children as victims. The study also identified stark disparities in how children were depicted in the news, with the prevailing representations emphasizing their powerlessness and vulnerability. Children cast as victims were often at the center of narratives involving violence, crime, abuse, or natural disasters (Katz & Cohnen, 2021).

The media’s role in presenting children not only as victims but also as strong, creative, and contributing members of society can facilitate a deeper understanding of their rights and needs. It is imperative for the media to take necessary steps toward broader representations of children and to produce content that raises public awareness. Adopting such an approach would promote a more holistic and equitable portrayal of children in the media.

2.2. Children’s news on social media

Within media representations, the presence of children on the internet has been deemed significant in public, social, and political contexts. Particularly in online spaces, the representation of children has frequently been debated, with analyses focusing on the roles assigned to them and the extent of their influence. The manner in which children are portrayed in news narratives contributes to the dissemination of various preconceived notions and biases within society (Ponte et al., 2009). In news content presented on social media, children are not only included within the message but are also framed through various discourses. Consequently, the perceptions shaped around children are disseminated and different profiles are constructed (Rundblad, 2015).

Children are presented in digital media, particularly within news content, in a straightforward language aimed at target audiences. The constructive or destructive nature of the language used in news involving children is frequently emphasized. Constructive language in news content is solution-oriented and offers consistent positive resolutions. In news where positive emotions are conveyed, solutions to adversities faced by children are highlighted. Conversely, destructive language is present in negative news, where the reproduction of harsh realities in child-related news can trigger various traumas (Kleemans et al., 2017).

In digital media, children are represented as vulnerable victims, needy individuals, exposed subjects, angels, or criminal offenders. Additionally, they are often categorized as either "in trouble" or "troublemakers" (Erdem & Kaynar, 2022). The frequent emphasis on the victimization of children in news reports reinforces the subconscious perception within the public that these children are inherently susceptible to abuse. This situation reveals a significant deficiency in the protection of both children’s and their families’ privacy, highlighting the recurring nature of these dangers. A form of exposure is thus revealed in digital platforms, leading to violations of children's rights and the production of non-child-friendly media content (Kurt, 2020).

In social media news content featuring children, their full names are often omitted, with only the initials of their first and last names used. While the frequency of using images or representations of victimized children in news is increasing, there are also fluctuations in the rates of sharing details such as children’s ages, genders, or addresses (Ozmen & Polatlar, 2022). The presentation of children in social media news in a manner that leaves them vulnerable to exploitation contributes to moral panic, exacerbates victimization, and provides potential guidance for perpetrators (Popović, 2018). According to Riggs et al., the repeated portrayal of children within similar patterns in social media normalizes and reinforces deviant behaviors. Beyond its negative implications, the representation of children on social media also plays a role in shaping public opinion. Through digital media and campaigns, various cases of child abuse, in which perpetrators have been brought to justice, have been publicized. These cases, which are brought to light, may involve abuse by peers, caregivers, or even parents within the family unit (Riggs et al., 2009).

3. METHODOLOGY

This study focuses on the representation of violence in social media news concerning the "Newborn Gang," a criminal group in Turkey accused of profiting from admitting newborns into intensive care in private hospitals, allegedly resulting in the deaths of at least 12 infants. The "Newborn Gang" gained prominence in both mainstream and social media in Türkiye due to police operations and subsequent judicial proceedings. Given the gravity of this case —where 47 healthcare workers and more than 10 hospitals were implicated— the extensive media coverage of such an incident was inevitable.

To examine how this case was represented in the media, the study analyzed the X accounts of three media outlets: Pusholder, an independent social media news platform; Habertürk.com, an online news site; and Hürriyet, a media organization operating both as a printed newspaper and an online news platform. The selection of X as the primary social media platform for analysis was based on two main reasons. First, X provides a suitable data field for the netnographic methodology applied in the study. Second, Turkey ranks as the sixth country with the highest number of X users globally (We are social, 2025). Additionally, the selected X accounts belong to some of the most followed news networks in Türkiye. Among mainstream newspapers, Hürriyet leads with 4.3 million followers, while Habertürk.com is the most-followed online news site with 5 million followers. Pusholder, with 3.2 million followers, has the highest number of followers among social media-based news pages. Therefore, the study included the most-followed news outlets on X in Türkiye, analyzing their news content through a netnographic approach. In studies that focus on news content shared on X, methodological approaches such as discourse analysis or qualitative content analysis are commonly employed. Nevertheless, netnography functions as a complementary methodological framework, as it ensures coherence in research conducted within digital networks by integrating both the data collection process and subsequent analytical stages. As a qualitative research method, netnography offers a broad scope of application and enables in-depth and detailed analysis of online interactions and content. For these reasons, the present study adopts the netnographic method as its primary methodological approach.

Netnography, which originates from ethnographic research, adapts participatory observation to the digital realm. In netnographic research, digital network data is examined through accessibility and archival functions, allowing for both participatory and non-participatory digital observation. Netnographic research consists of the stages of planning, entry, data collection, interpretation, and adherence to ethical norms (Kozinets, 2015). In this regard, the netnographic approach enables the examination of virtual cultures within computer-mediated environments. Through this method, digital groups and their cultural dynamics, particularly in social media, can be investigated (Kozinets, 2019; Uzun & Tiryaki, 2024).

The netnographic observation in this study began with a preliminary examination stage, during which the sources of news related to the " Newborn Gang" were identified. At this stage, the X accounts of the three most-followed news outlets were selected for analysis. The study utilized non-participant observation, wherein only posts were examined without any engagement with the content or accounts. On Hürriyet’s X account, 137 related news items were identified, of which 12 were excluded due to irrelevance. On Habertürk’s X account, 153 related news items were found, with 17 removed for being irrelevant or covering multiple unrelated topics. Pusholder’s X account contained 53 relevant news items, all of which were included in the study. Although Pusholder claims to have been active since 2020, it was not possible to access news reports dating back to April 2024, which marks the start of this study. Therefore, only news reports from August 2024 onward were examined. The recorded news reports were then coded using the qualitative data analysis software MAXQDA 2020. Since this study examines a publicly accessible platform that includes open data such as X, ethical committee approval was not obtained. The researchers conducting the study are based in Turkey, where studies that rely on open-source data or do not involve direct research on human or animal subjects are considered exempt from ethical committee approval. Nevertheless, the protection of personal data remains a critical concern in academic research. Accordingly, anonymization was adopted during the coding process, and the identities of the X accounts from which the analyzed content was shared were concealed. In this context, sample news tweets were utilized anonymously in accordance with ethical standards, while the names of children who were victims of violence were also kept confidential.

To ensure the validity and reliability of the study, a multiple coding procedure was employed. All content was independently coded by three researchers using MAXQDA on different days. The resulting coding schemes were compared and consolidated into a final coding framework. The analysis primarily drew on categories established in the literature; themes independently identified by all three researchers were added as analytical categories. Additionally, only literature-based categories that demonstrated sufficient prominence in the data were included in the analysis.

In the second phase of the study, the analytical framework was established to guide the analysis. Based on a literature review on the representation of violence in the media, thematic categories were developed using observational notes and coding. The categories identified during the coding process included "Reporting to the Police as the Primary Identifier of Violence," "Dramatization of the Incident," "Individualization/Personalization," "Mediatization of the Incident," "Judicial Process," and "Statements from Politicians." While the category "Statements from Politicians" emerged during data analysis, the other categories were constructed based on relevant literature (Marinescu, 2018; Yılmaz, 2024). Due to allegations linking the 'Newborn Gang' to Turkish politics, 'Statements by politicians' featured prominently in the obtained data. Consequently, this category was utilized as a distinct analytical theme. The other categories were included in the study as they are established examination themes found in the literature regarding the representation of violence in media.

4. RESULTS

Although the theme of 'Statements by politicians' is not typically encountered in the existing literature, it was coded as a separate category due to its prevalence within the obtained data. Furthermore, this category aligns with the concepts of mediatization and dramatization of the event. However, treating political statements as a separate category was deemed beneficial for the depth of the study. The findings indicate that news reports about the gang responsible for newborn deaths were extensively dramatized. Furthermore, the study found that individualization/personalization and mediatization were commonly employed narrative strategies. However, the analysis also revealed that news coverage placed less emphasis on violence against children and instead highlighted the public financial burden associated with the incident.

Some news reports were found to fit into multiple categories. For instance, reports that dramatized the incident often also included elements of individualization/personalization. In particular, interviews with families who lost their newborns both dramatized the event and personalized the narrative. Additionally, the category of mediatization frequently overlapped with reports containing political statements and other categories of coverage.

4.1. Reporting to the Police as the Primary Identifier of Violence

The representation of violence in media is constantly reconstructed, leading to the continuous dissemination of violent content. A primary means by which violence is defined in the media is through its initial reporting to legal authorities and law enforcement. That is, violent incidents become identifiable in the media once they are reported to the police or other security forces. This framing plays a significant role in shaping public perceptions of violence and its normalization (Marinescu, 2018).

In contemporary media, violence is most prominently represented in digital networks, particularly on social media. News agencies and individual users circulate various reports of violence daily. As is the case globally, in Turkey, the dominant way violence is introduced into media discourse is through its referral to law enforcement. The portrayal of the "Newborn" scandal in the media, however, prioritized financial misconduct over the incident's violent nature.

On April 27, 2024, police launched an operation against the "Newborn Gang" following complaints. In the initial X posts made by news agencies after the police operation, reports did not focus on infant deaths. Example 1: "In an operation conducted in Istanbul and Tekirdağ, 38 individuals, including doctors, were detained for allegedly transferring newborns to private hospitals' newborn units and committing irregularities for financial gain." This report frames the case primarily as financial fraud rather than violence. It is possible that news agencies framed the event this way due to a lack of sufficient information at the initial stage. However, even in the subsequent police operation —despite the event involving the deprivation of the fundamental right to life— news reports continued to downplay infant deaths. Example 2: "Fourteen more individuals have been detained in the 'Newborn Gang' investigation." The second wave of operations in August 2024, which revealed infant deaths and the financial burden on the public, also followed a framing strategy that marginalized the violence aspect. In the news report, only the number of detained healthcare workers was provided, and they were referred to by the label assigned to the network. As evident from the text, the news item makes no reference to the violence to which the infants were subjected. In effect, the media nearly ignored the fact that the incident involved the violation of infants' right to life.

4.2. Dramatization of the Incident

Emphasizing the tragic and sorrowful aspects of an event enhances its attention-grabbing quality, thereby producing a state of dramatization. In this way, the emotional exploitation of the reader becomes easier, and interest in the media content increases (Kol & Eskicumalı, 2024). The representation of violence in the media is fundamentally based on the dramatization of violent events and the creation of a context that captures readers' attention. The dramatic aspect of violence is particularly reliant on victim narratives, aiming to establish a connection between readers and the incident. This approach enables the media to increase the readability of content and garner public interest, ultimately making violence more marketable. However, such a representation detaches violence from its broader context and reduces it to a mere story. Consequently, violence is not perceived as a structured phenomenon that evokes widespread empathy but rather as an isolated narrative (Ekiugbo, 2023; San Miguel et al., 2010).

In news reports concerning the fatal medical interventions allegedly conducted by the "Newborn Gang," the element of dramatization is highly pronounced. For instance, some reports detail how a healthy baby was allegedly kept in intensive care under the premise that "it would die anyway, so there was no need for treatment," ultimately surviving for 44 days while enduring severe suffering. Such accounts depict how the denial of medical treatment not only subjected the infant to violence but also directly led to its death. Example 1: "Ayşe K., who gave birth at the Private Reyap Hospital in Esenyurt, Istanbul, a facility implicated in the 'Newborn Gang' investigation, claimed that her now four-year-old son was left 90% disabled due to the negligence of hospital staff." Another example narrates the story of a child who became permanently disabled due to the gang's actions. One of the most dramatized reports includes a story about a deceased “infant's body being handed over in a biscuit box”, emphasizing both the cruelty inflicted upon the family and the inhumane nature of the perpetrators' actions. Such portrayals are highly emotive and designed to elicit strong reactions from readers. Among the media outlets analyzed, Habertürk extensively utilized victim narratives to dramatize violent incidents through interviews conducted on its affiliated television programs. Similarly, Hürriyet newspaper chose to frame the case within a dramatic context by interviewing grieving families who had lost their infants.

4.3. Individualization/Personalization

The tendency of media to focus on individuals instead of the economic, social, political, and legal dimensions of events, which converts media content into a personal narrative, is termed individualization/personalization (Albayrak, 2013). The representation of violence in the media is also achieved through the individualization or personalization of violent incidents. In media narratives, violence is often depicted as an individual phenomenon, portraying both the perpetrator and the victim within a framework of personal circumstances. The personal motivations of the perpetrator are emphasized as the primary factors driving the violent act, while the victims are also occasionally depicted as having personal circumstances that contributed to the incident (Cunningham & Reidy, 2002). This framing leads audiences to perceive violence as an isolated event rather than a social phenomenon with broader structural implications.

In news coverage related to newborn deaths and the alleged crimes committed by the "Newborn Gang," individualization/personalization is prominently observed. In the analyzed reports, the focus on individual perpetrators is particularly centered on Example 1: "It was revealed that Dr. Fırat Sarı, the leader of the 'Newborn Gang,' had been sentenced to 12 years in prison in 1998 for membership in the PKK, later reduced to two years under the Social Reintegration Law in 2003." This report highlights the suspect's alleged ties to a terrorist organization, reinforcing his characterization as a habitual criminal. In other words, the act of violence is framed as a consequence of his predisposition toward crime. Example 2: "Mustafa Kemal Zengin, who introduced himself as a 'former undersecretary' and allegedly threatened the prosecutor investigating the 'Newborn Gang' case, had previously been convicted of defrauding someone by falsely promising them a municipal kiosk license, receiving a 10-month prison sentence and a 20 TL fine." This narrative similarly presents the individual as someone with a history of criminal activities, emphasizing a pattern of lawbreaking behavior. Furthermore, analysis of defendant statements suggests that the accused often framed the incident as an individual matter. On the other hand, individualization/personalization was almost absent in narratives involving the victims, as their experiences were predominantly framed within a dramatized context.

4.4. Mediatization of the Incident

Mediatization encompasses the exaggeration of an event, its presentation in a way that makes it appealing and watchable in the media, as well as processes of commercialization and complication. Through mediatization, the event placed at the forefront loses its original value and acquires a new actional or marginal perspective (Barış & Yeşilyurt, 2025). The representation of violence in the media is also facilitated through mediatization, a process that detaches the violent event from its original context and transforms it into a new reality. As violence gains a media-driven dimension, it ceases to be perceived as a mere violent act and instead becomes a popular culture phenomenon. Consequently, the act of violence itself is commodified by the media, with both perpetrators and victims becoming components of media content (Bratosin, 2021). In the Turkish media, the deaths of newborns and the financial damage inflicted upon the public sector were transformed into a media spectacle, leading to both widespread dissemination and normalization of the incident.

An analysis of reports on the "Newborn Gang" case reveals that the mediatization process was predominantly constructed through the alleged perpetrators and the prosecutor leading the investigation. Example 1: "Here is your photograph! Prosecutor Yavuz did not leave the 'Newborn Gang' suspect's request unanswered." This report references an iconic photograph that has become emblematic in Turkish media, depicting the prosecutor in the background as police officers apprehended the suspect. The image was widely circulated in both news reports and social media posts. Additionally, despite the gravity of the case, which involved the deaths of at least 12 infants and substantial financial losses to the public, significant media attention was directed toward the physical appearance of the gang leader. Example 2: "While Turkey mourns the brutality of the 'Newborn Gang,' it has also come to light that one of the ringleaders, Dr. Fırat Sarı, spent money on enhancing his physical appearance." Reports emphasized the suspect's distinctive look, particularly his hair prosthesis, which was later removed, an image that was frequently featured in media coverage.

Another striking example of mediatization involved a widely recognized phrase from a popular Turkish television series. During the trial, a judge reportedly referenced the line "Stealing from the state is more honorable than stealing from the people." This statement was widely circulated in media coverage of the trial. In response, the actor who originally delivered the line in the TV series criticized its use in a legal context through an Instagram Reels post. This development effectively turned the trial into a media spectacle and a pop culture reference. Furthermore, coverage of the defendants focused extensively on their physical appearances, monthly incomes, and sensationalized descriptions such as "baby killer" alongside references to television drama dialogues. This mediatization transformed the case into a continuous source of media content, both in traditional and social media, beyond its initial context as a tragic event involving newborn deaths.

4.5. Judicial Process

One of the most crucial stages in the media representation of violence is the judicial process and the legal framework that ensures the perpetrators face consequences. News reports covering judicial proceedings related to acts of violence are among the examples of how violence is represented in the media. The judicial process clarifies questions regarding the causes of violence, the nature of the violence committed, and its legal implications. The ethical dimension of reporting on judicial proceedings and the extent to which details of violence are disclosed to the public constitute a significant threshold. In this sense, the way the media portrays violence becomes particularly evident during this stage (Kafka et al., 2019).

Reporting on judicial proceedings related to acts of violence provides a clearer picture once the trial has concluded. In the present study, the legal proceedings concerning the "Newborn Gang" have not yet been finalized. Therefore, information on the trial’s outcome remains incomplete. However, news reports have prominently highlighted the number of hearings and defendants involved. Example 1: "Of the 15 suspects detained in the Newborn Gang investigation, 11 have been arrested." The first example concerning the judicial process is directly based on a court ruling and reports the number of suspects who have been arrested. It is also important to note that these 11 individuals were not the first suspects detained in connection with the case.

Example 2: "The defendants in the Newborn Gang case will appear before the judge tomorrow. The indictment seeks life sentences for 47 suspects and additional sentences of up to 582 years and 9 months for each of the 11 life sentences requested. The trial is expected to last five days, with the indictment spanning 1,399 pages."

As seen in this news excerpt, the number of defendants and the sentences sought have been emphasized. The request for 11 life sentences in the initial indictment corresponds to the punishment sought for each deceased infant, highlighting the scale of the organized violence.

4.6. Statements from Politicians

The media representation of violence also includes statements from various societal figures as the violent incident becomes a topic of public debate. This aspect does not directly pertain to the representation of violence itself but rather to the way in which society discusses the incident. Politicians, particularly government officials, often make statements regarding incidents that significantly impact broad segments of society or that evolve into public concerns through media coverage. These statements, in turn, influence how violence is represented in the media. In other words, they shape how violence is framed and discussed within the media discourse (Özer, 2024).

During the trial process concerning the deaths of newborns and the financial losses suffered by the public, several government officials, including the Minister of Health, made statements. These statements addressed both the violent incidents that led to infant deaths and the judicial proceedings. Example 1: "Minister of Health Kemal Memişoğlu on the 'Newborn Gang' case: 'We have eliminated the rotten apples.'" As seen in this example, the Minister of Health framed the incident as part of a broader effort to reform the healthcare system. The perpetrators were characterized as problematic individuals within the system, emphasizing that the issue stemmed from a small group rather than a systemic failure. This framing underscored the idea that the healthcare system would be purged of such elements and that similar incidents would not recur. Example 2: "Ali Yerlikaya (on the Newborn Gang): 'As a father, I am deeply saddened. I share the sorrow of our people to the fullest extent. I will closely follow the case to ensure that these heartless individuals, who disregarded the lives of our angelic newborns for illicit financial gain, receive the punishment they deserve.'" The Minister of the Interior, in his statement, emphasized that those responsible for the infants’ deaths would not go unpunished. His remarks explicitly addressed the act of violence and its legal consequences.

Conversely, the leader of the main opposition party, Özgür Özel, stated, "(Newborn Gang) 'These 19 hospitals must be nationalized as an example to all.'" His statement focused on the need for the state to seize control of hospitals involved in the scandal rather than addressing the act of violence or the judicial process. Instead, he advocated for nationalizing these hospitals to provide free healthcare services to the public.

Overall, the media’s portrayal of political statements regarding the case demonstrates how the incident was framed in different contexts, with government officials emphasizing system reform and legal accountability, while opposition figures highlighted broader institutional responses.

5. CONCLUSIONS

This study explores how news outlets on Platform X represented the acts of violence committed by a criminal network responsible for the deaths of newborns, as well as the subsequent judicial proceedings against the perpetrators. The findings indicate that the three news organizations selected for analysis minimally emphasized the violent nature of the event. Initial reports, published when the "Newborn Gang" was apprehended by law enforcement, primarily highlighted the financial fraud, the exploitation of the healthcare system for monetary gain, and the resulting economic damage to the state. Similarly, in reports on subsequent police operations conducted three months into the investigation, the financial losses suffered by the public were prioritized over the deaths of newborns. Consequently, rather than focusing on the twelve infants who were killed, the media placed greater emphasis on the millions of lira lost by the state. This aligns with Marinescu’s (2018) argument that the media relies on law enforcement as the primary definers of violence, yet often presents a problematic representation of such incidents. Thus, Turkish media, in its coverage of the "Newborn Gang" case on social media, largely sidelined the issue of infant deaths in favor of economic concerns.

Another prominent characteristic of media coverage in this case was the dramatization of the violence. Research suggests that the dramatization of violent events attracts greater public interest (Ekiugbo, 2023). The "Newborn Gang" news stories frequently employed dramatic narrative techniques to report on the violence, with particular focus on the deaths of infants and the emotional experiences of affected families. This approach was evident in interviews conducted with bereaved families, which formed the core of the dramatic narrative. A dramatic discourse was employed to evoke an emotional response from users and to underscore the tragic aspects of the event. The violence experienced by infants and the trauma endured by families were reflected in media content, leading to a normalization effect among users. In this way, both the physical violence inflicted on the newborns and the psychological suffering endured by their families were extensively utilized in news reports.

An additional aspect of media representation of violence is the tendency toward individualization or personalization. The media often detaches violent incidents from their broader social context and presents them as isolated individual acts (Cunningham & Reidy, 2002). The study found that individualization was the dominant strategy in representing violence in the "Newborn Gang" case. Both the accused healthcare workers and the victims were positioned within a highly individualized framework. In particular, news reports disproportionately focused on the personal background of the alleged leader of the gang, emphasizing his previous criminal record related to terrorist activities. This portrayal foregrounded the individual aspect of the crime, implying that the violence was an exception stemming from the character of specific individuals rather than a systemic issue. Additionally, the Minister of Health’s statement referring to the perpetrators as "rotten apples" reinforced the notion that the violence was an isolated problem attributable to a few individuals rather than a structural failure. Thus, the individualization of violence became a defining feature of its media representation in this case. This situation, in turn, leads to the concealment of the economic, social, political, and policy-related dimensions of the incident. The individualized discourse present in the ‘Newborn Gang’ news reports obscured the underlying issues and the actors responsible for the event.

A frequently employed technique in the media's representation of violent incidents is their "mediatization" (Bratosin, 2021). In the "Newborn Gang" case, mediatization was evident in the way certain aspects of the story were detached from the core issue of violence and emphasized in a sensationalized manner. As a consequence of mediatization, the aspects of the incident that attract public interest are emphasized, while the events and phenomena that should remain central are overlooked. This leads to the neglect of both the deaths of the infants involved and the unnecessary procedures allegedly performed on them by healthcare personnel. When users focus predominantly on the media-driven dimensions of the case, the public scrutiny and pressure necessary to identify the actual perpetrators fail to emerge. This, in turn, may allow groups referred to as the ‘Newborn Gang’ to continue operating and may diminish the perceived severity of the crimes they are alleged to have committed. The study found that news reports focused on the gang members’ monthly earnings, physical appearances, and personal conversations rather than on the violent deaths of the infants. For instance, the media highlighted details such as the gang members’ use of hair implants and references to popular television series dialogues, which received more coverage than the actual deaths of the newborns. Furthermore, the media's portrayal of the lead prosecutor in the investigation also played a role in the mediatization of the case. The prosecutor’s widely shared photographs on social media, as well as reports on the gifts sent to him by children, contributed to a media narrative that distracted from the fundamental issue of violence against infants.

The final stage in the media representation of violent incidents is the judicial process. Through legal proceedings, perpetrators of violence are held accountable, and victims receive some degree of justice. Additionally, the judicial process provides answers regarding how and why the acts of violence were committed (Kafka et al., 2019). However, in the case of the "Newborn Gang," the legal proceedings have not yet concluded. Consequently, news reports do not yet provide insights into the full extent of the violence or its underlying causes. Nevertheless, an analysis of the reports reveals the number of healthcare professionals and private hospitals implicated in the case. The study found that numerical data was frequently emphasized in news coverage. Specifically, reports prioritized details such as the number of court hearings, the length of prison sentences sought for the defendants, and the financial sums involved in the case. While some reports did mention the deceased infants, none explicitly detailed the total number of victims or the full extent of harm inflicted upon affected families.

In media content, various discourses are observed that prioritize engagement with the news narrative itself rather than addressing the scale of the violence perpetrated by the 'Newborn Gang' or highlighting the critical elements that demand attention. Even during the coverage of the second police operation, the deprivation of the right to life —which encompasses infant fatalities and represents the ultimate form of violence— was not prioritized. Through headlines such as 'Funeral handed over in a biscuit box,' the violence experienced by the infants was dramatized, thereby relegating the magnitude of the loss of life to the background. Indeed, reporting the delivery of an infant's remains in such a manner illustrates both the extent of the violence inflicted upon the family and the heinous nature of the crimes committed by the defendants. Furthermore, the prominence given to Minister of Health Kemal Memişoğlu’s statement, 'We have cleaned out the rotten apples,' has resulted in the disregard of other perpetrators involved, effectively attributing the crime to isolated individuals.

This study contributes to clearly revealing how violence against children is presented on social media. While numerous studies have examined the representation of violence in the media from various perspectives (Arslan & Topal, 2021; Kafka et al., 2019; Marinescu, 2018; Mensa et al., 2025; Özer, 2024), the originality of this study lies in its focus on the representation of violence perpetrated by a gang in Turkey that caused the deaths of infants and deprived children of their right to life. Indeed, the deprivation of children’s right to life can be regarded as the most severe form of violence. The representation of this violence and the ways in which the media foregrounds different aspects of such acts constitute the primary dimension through which this study distinguishes itself from existing research.

This study examined news reports on Platform X concerning the "Newborn Gang," a criminal network accused of financially exploiting newborn intensive care units and causing the deaths of at least twelve infants. The findings indicate that, within the analyzed news reports, the most extreme form of violence —infant deaths— received significantly less coverage than other aspects of the case. However, it is important to acknowledge the study's limitations, as it does not represent the entirety of Turkish media but should be evaluated within its own scope. Future research could explore how various forms of violence, particularly against children and women, are represented across both social and traditional media. Additionally, within the context of the "Newborn Gang" case, further studies could analyze media narratives surrounding the judicial proceedings and interviews with affected families. Moreover, in-depth interviews with victimized families could provide valuable academic insights into different dimensions of violence against infants and children.

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AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS, FUNDING AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Author Contributions:

Conceptualization: Özlem Barış and Bünyamin Uzun. Methodology: Bünyamin Uzun and Segah Yeşilyurt. Software: Segah Yeşilyurt and Özlem Barış. Validation: Segah Yeşilyurt and Özlem Barış. Formal analysis: Özlem Barış and Bünyamin Uzun. Data curation: Bünyamin Uzun. Writing-original draft preparation: Özlem Barış. Writing-review and editing: Özlem Barış and Bünyamin Uzun. Visualization: Özlem Barış and Bünyamin Uzun. Supervision: Segah Yeşilyurt. Project administration: Özlem Barış and Bünyamin Uzun. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.