Erdoğan: Media must be Independent

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President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in his message for January 10, Working Reporters’ day said, “The press must be independent”.

Erdoğan stating that democracy can be strong in so far reporters are independent celebrated the day of media workers.

31 journalists are imprisoned by January 7. G-9 Journalist Organizations Platform will not celebrate the day because of the pressures against journalists and that issue press releases in Ankara and İstanbul.

“Great countries have multivocal media”

Here are some prominent lines from Erdoğan’s statement:

“Great, well-established and strong countries have multivocal, colored, effective media outlets equipped with modern technology.

“Media in which different voices and ideas can Express themselves is crucial for a healthy public as well”.

“Press freedom shouldn’t be perceived as irresponsibility”

“The press must be free. However, freedom of the press should never be perceived as irresponsibility. What really matters is that people should be able to receive objective and unbiased news”.

“True, unbiased, healthy informing”

“Whille Turkish press on the one hand has countless successes, on the other hand it has witnessed practices that harm ‘dignity of idea’, ignore its own independence, hinders country’s democracy.

“The efforts of journalists aiming to perform their duty in various areas of the world despite difficult circumstances by risking their lives in conflict environments to inform people correctly and objectively is indeed praiseworthy”.

“Correct report”

“Our media catching up with rapid developments in communication Technologies is pleasing.

“Diversifying media Technologies in recent years has rarified to make distinction between correct and false reports. Social media has become a platform in which undesired releases making ‘black propaganda’ as much as serving as a spot to receive news fast and mold puıblic opinion. Winnowing out black propaganda materials has become a liability for our reporters as much as releasing correct reports.

“Unity and solidarity”

“I believe that our media outlets as one of the most important pieces of our demoratic culture being aware of their responsibility  will continue their contribution to the improvement of our democracy and enhancement of our unity and solidarity.

“I celebrate Working Reporters’ Day of our media staff with these thoughts, I wish them success”. (BK/TK)