Hürriyet chairwoman announces sabbatical break from her post

Hürriyet chairwoman Vuslat Doğan Sabancı has announced that she will take a break from her post, which she has retained for seven years, in her first interview with the daily in a career that spanned 20 years.

"Of course, I am not leaving. I am merely taking a sabbatical. I have been working non-stop at Hürriyet for the past 20 years. However, there are some issues that I've long wanted to focus on various projects, yet had always postponed. I am stepping down as the Chairwoman in order to make time for those issues. But I will still be on the Board of Directors," Doğan Sabancı told Hürriyet's supplements editor Çınar Oskay.

Doğan Sabancı said she will focus on the role of media in the polarizing world and seek solutions on how media can be platform for better conversations at this day and age. She will do this by collaborating and conferring with opinion leaders. "I would like to reach a point where media can host 'better conversations' where different or even conflicting opinions can be expressed with respect. This is what really excites me," Doğan Sabancı said, that she would dive into philosophical and academic discussions and eventually hope to come up with substantial projects.

Doğan Sabancı also argued that globalization and the digital revolution instead of getting people closer in communication has made them retrieve to their own homes with likeminded people in fear. So, she said, the promised of "one big happy family" turned into many hostile villages.

The situation subsequently led to intolerance and polarization forcing the whole world to take sides.

Doğan Sabancı stated that she also felt the "pressure to take sides" at Hürriyet as a media executive.

"Of course, I have. And Hürriyet is in an extra...