Yedigün ( Turkish: Seven Days) was a weekly illustrated general interest magazine which existed between 1933 and 1950 in Istanbul. It was one of the first publications in its category in Turkey. Sedat Simavi, a prominent Turkish journalist, was the founder and editor of the magazine of which the motto was Yedigün is the ornament of each home. ^[1]

History and profile

Yedigün was first published on 15 March 1933, and its founder and editor was Sedat Simavi. ^{[2] [3]} Sadri Etem Ertem was the founding publisher and owner of the magazine until 1937 when Simavi acquired it. ^[3] Ertem designed Yedigün as a family-oriented magazine, ^[3] targeting the Westernized elites, intellectuals, the bureaucrats and those living in cities. ^[2] However, from 1937 Yedigün began to target youth and young adolescents. ^[3] Then, the magazine was modeled on the German weekly Die Woche ( German: The week) and the French magazine 7 Jour ( French: Seven Days). ^[3] It was published in broad format and covered both color and black and white pages. ^[4]

Yedigün became one of the most popular publications and enjoyed higher levels of circulation selling 54,000 copies particularly in the period 1937–1948. ^{[2] [3]} It was one of two publications which represented the Republic of Turkey at the Balkan Print and Publication Congress portraying the urban modernism in 1938. ^[3] The other one was Yeni Adam ( Turkish: New Man) which displayed the rural modernism in Turkey. ^[3]

Yedigün was closed down by Sedat Simavi in 1950 after producing 911 issues. ^[4]

Content and contributors

Yedigün had a wide range of contributors, including Ercüment Ekrem Talu, Nurullah Ataç, Peyami Safa, Ahmet Hamdi Tanpınar, Abdülhak Şinasi Hisar, Cemal Nadir Güler and Hüseyin Cahit Yalçın. ^{[2] [3]} The magazine published articles on politics, travel and relationships focusing on modernity and interviews with notable figures of the period. ^[5] Yedigün published an interview with Seniha Hanım, wife of Cemal Paşa, in 1934. ^[6]

The magazine presented a modernist projection for the Turkish family and home decor. ^{[1] [7]} In addition, it frequently featured short stories and novels, including Sedat Simavi's work, namely Nankörlerin Romanı ( Turkish: The Novel of the Ungrateful; 1933). ^[4] Halide Edib Adıvar's novel Yolpalas Cinayeti ( Turkish: Yolpalas Murder) was serialized in Yedigün between 12 August and 21 October 1936 before its publication. ^[4]

References