'Media Ownership Monitor Turkey' Project by bianet, Reporter ohne Grenzen Presented at Press Conference

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The results of the joint project "Media Ownership Monitor (MOM) Turkey" run by IPS Communication Foundation/ bianet and Reporter ohne Grenzen, the German wing of RSF (Reporters without Borders) were presented today (October 27) at a press conference. 

The press conference held in Nippon Hotel in Taksim has started by the opening speeched held by IPS Communication Foundation Executive Board Member Tuğrul Yılmaz, director of Reporter ohne Grenzen Christian Mihr and Ireneusz Fidos, EU Turkey Delegation Head of Political Affairs. 

Eryılmaz: We need hard data

Referring to the situation of the media in Turkey, Eryılmaz has noted;

"Since the beginning of my journey of journalism in 1974, the media has changed incredibly in Turkey. I always used to wonder; they are only a few, what is it that they own, why are they being allowed, why can't we deal with them? We need some hard data on the issue". 

Mihr: Government controls media with economic trumps

Stating that the media owners had been using the media as a “weapon” for their own interests for a long time, Mihr has noted that this was a global problem and added;

“The critical and independent media is Turkey at a critical stage. The reason for this is the ongoing pressures by the Government of Turkey.

“As much as the media ownership issue seems like an academic topic, the Government controls the media with its economic trumps.

“Yet this situation is being monitored by media watchdogs. The fight for freedom of expression is not yet over in Turkey and freedom allways wins at the end of the day. That’s why I still have hope.

Fidos: Media ownership structure threats editorial independence

Stating that they had been following the reports of bianet as the Delegation of European Union to Turkey, Fidos has noted “Media ownership is threatening the editorial independence.

Fidos has added that the media market was dominated by certain groups, and pointed out that they were expecting that the MOM project would contribute to promoting freedom of expression and press in Turkey.  

Following the opening speeches, MOM Project Coordinator Olaf Steenfadt,  project manager Dilay Yalçın and project researchers Elif İnce and Burcu Karakaş, project advisor Ceren Sözeri and legal advisor Nihan Güneli presented the website of the “Media Ownership Monitor” project and gave information about the methods of the research.

About the Project 

MOM is a global initiative launched by Reporter ohne Grenzen, the German wing of the international press freedom watchdog Reporters Without Borders.

It has been or is being carried out in eight countries worldwide, including Tunisia, Ukraine, Peru, the Philippines, Columbia and Cambodia. The project is funded by the German Ministry for Economic Development and Cooperation (BMZ). RSF cooperates with regional partners in the project.  (EA/DG)