Disclosed Army Secret Report Classifies Media

Ahmet Şık's article shows how army officials use the accreditation process based on "journalists' approach to armed forces". Reports include statistics regarding number of published articles dubbed as "positive" or "negative" and journalists as "trustworthy" or "precarious".

Following the publication of the report today (March 8) in Nokta and cited in several newspapers, General Staff made a declaration saying that an investigation has begun into the incident.

Upto now, there're no specific details regarding the investigation.

Classification

Prepared by General Staff Public Relations Department and approved by General Staff General Secretary Salih Zeki Çolak, the report titled "Accredited Press and Media Outlets" dates back to November 2006.

Accreditation is defined as follows:

"In light of the examination which classify media outlets as trustworthy or precarious made with regard to the Turkish Armed Forces' (TSK) indispensable principles, a list of accreditation including those trustworthy is compiled".

(...)

"Participation of media outlets with low levels of trust in events organized by the TSK has been limited and those deemed as trustworthy have been encouraged".

(...)

"By not accrediting precarious media outlets, their reputation in public's eye has been attenuated".

(...)

"Despite counter interpretations, the accreditation process serves as an examination of media outlets' trustworthiness by the TSK".

Following those explanations, the report includes the following examinations about listed media outlets:

* Posta, Hürriyet, Milliyet, Referans, Gözcü, Sabah, Ortadoğu, Yeniçağ, The New Anatolian, Dünya, Türkiye, Cumhuriyet, Akşam and Vatan newspapers; TRT, BRT-K, ART, CINE 5, EY TV, EXPO Channel TV, NTV CNBC-E, ATV, TV 8, Show TV, Flash TV, CNN Türk, Kanal D, Star television stations; İhlas News Agency, Doğan News Agency, Anatolian News Agency, ANKA Agency, Turkish News Agency; ASAM (Strategical Analysis), Defense Airforce Magazine, Tempo, Müdafaa-i Hukuk, Defense News and given its re-publishing Nokta Magazine's accreditations to be renewed.

* Daily Radikal newspaper: Although its accreditation to be renewed, four of its commentators to be banned from TSK events.

* Daily Takvim newspaper: Although its accreditation to be renewed, commentators opposing the TSK to be banned from TSK events.

* Daily H.O. Tercüman newspaper: Regarding the restructuring of the newspaper, it should be monitored for a while and a decision to be reached accordingly.

* SKY Türk television: Although its accreditation to be renewed, commentators opposing the TSK to be banned from TSK events.

* Daily Star newspaper: Regarding the restructuring of the newspaper, it should be monitored for a while and its accreditation to be on hold for a while.

* Jane's Defense Weekly Magazine: Magazine's accreditation to be renewed, its representative in Turkey to be banned from TSK events.

* News Coorparation (TGRT): Regarding the restructuring of the newspaper, it should be monitored for a while and a decision to be reached accordingly.

* Haber Türk TV: Although its accreditation to be renewed, commentators opposing the TSK (two names are specified) to be banned from TSK events.

* Kanal Türk TV: To be monitored for a while, and its owner to be banned from TSK events.

"Martyrs" shouldn't be called "dead"

In between the 53-page reports, there's a "Memorandum on the Concept of Martyrs". It expresses the concerns regarding the discussions around the concept of "martyrdom" and lists some cautions to be taken to avoid further discussion.

* Regarding false and partial news pieces, disclaimers can be sent to owners of such media outlets and remind them of media's responsibilities regarding the fight against terrorism.

* A strong counter informative over the Internet can diminish the effectiveness of such articles.

* Thorough meetings and corrective informative with selected journalists, security forces' expectations can be clearly explained and positive results would be achieved.(AŞ/TK/EÜ)

Note: Abstaining from revealing them as targets from nationalist and pro-army circles, bianet keeps the names of individual journalists who featured on General Staff's reports unpublished.