IPI Podcasts: How digital subscription models help support democracy in Turkey
IPI Turkey Programme Coordinator, Renan Akyavas, speaks with an executive of the Journalists Union of Turkey (TGS) Mustafa Kuleli and the US correspondent for BirGün newspaper, Ömür Şahin Keyif, about the most recent challenges Turkey s free media face, and how to defeat the vicious circles of financial challenges and poor quality journalism in the country.
With the digitalization of free media, digital subscription models like BirGün s have increasingly become appealing to many independent outlets to survive immense pressure by the Turkish media regulatory bodies sanctions such as Press Advertising Agency (BIK) for content critical of the government. Journalists stress that the independence and the quality of journalism they produce can only depend on the support and solidarity they see from their readers.
ANKARA: A new report from the Coalition for Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) states that Turkey is “the leading country for attacks and threats against women journalists” this year. Between January and April, 114 female journalists were attacked or threatened in Turkey the New York-based media organization revealed more than in any other country in the world. The CFWIJ’s First Quarterly Report for 2021 coincidentally coincided with Izzet Ulvi Yonter, deputy leader of the Turkish government’s coalition partner Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), targeting female anchor Ebru Baki for her coverage of the MHP’s draft constitution proposal. Yonter referred to the broadcaster as a “so-called journalist who distorts the facts and shows her intolerance against the MHP,” and said her attempts to “discredit” their draft proposal were “offensive and crude.”
ANKARA: The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of media executives, journalists and editors who advocate press freedom, condemned the latest set of fines issued by Turkey’s media regulator, the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTUK) on Thursday, against several dissident TV stations over their critical broadcasting.
RTUK is tasked with issuing licenses and monitoring TV and radio stations.
“These latest fines confirm that RTUK has become a means to stifle media content critical not only of the government or president, but also of any political allies,” the IPI said on Feb. 11, after fines were issued against Halk TV, Haberturk, Tele 1, KRT and Fox TV.