Press Council: 2018 a 'Pitch Black' Year for Media

Click to read the article in Turkish

The Press Council has released its 2018 report of "Freedom of Press and Expression." The report comprises of events that took place regarding freedom of press and expression and violations of rights committed in 2018.

The Press Council's Chair Pınar Türenç, Vice President Murat Önok, Board Members Hüsamettin Cindoruk, Atilla Gökçe, Başar Yaltı, Turgay Noyan, Okşan Atasoy, Mustafa Baş and Melih Berk have held a press conference to announce the findings of the report.

Türenç has said that with "detentions, trials, arrests, heavy prison sentences including life imprisonment, shut down television channels and newspapers, hundreds of journalists who lost their jobs, press members being pointed as targets by top authorities", 2018 is a "pitch black year" for journalists.

"Turkey leads the way in incarcerating journalists"

Having stated that the statements such as "There are no arrested journalists in Turkey" are not convincing," the report has said, "Turkey leads the way with China and Egypt in the list of countries with most journalists in prison."

The report includes estimations which were made by various institutions regarding the imprisoned journalists.

Depending on the criteria used, such as journalists who have or do not have press cards issued by the Presidency, accused of journalism or being a member of a terrorist organization, work regularly or temporarily, the number of imprisoned journalists in Turkey vary between 33 and 217.

"Independent media demonized"

In the report, it has been underpinned that "operations to subdue the media" accelerated after transition to the Presidential Government System.

"The media organizations and journalists who are doing independent and free journalism are being demonized. Media organizations like Cumhuriyet and Sözcü newspapers and Fox TV were subjected to pressure."

Media organs shut down, journalists lost their jobs

The report has remarked that facing increasing input prices due to the economic crisis, many newspapers and television channels, including national newspapers stopped or restricted publication and broadcasting. Hundreds of press members lost their jobs as a result of handovers of media organizations, the report has also said.

"Remedy is occupational solidarity"

The Press Council has said that the media, which is experiencing one of the greatest crises in its history, should mobilize its own dynamics. The Council stated that occupational solidarity is a must.

"We are ready to do our part for the solution of rights violations as long as a base is established without compromising freedom of press on universal standards."

"Everybody's freedom is under threat"

Vice Chair of the Press Council and Koç University Lecturer Dr. Murat Önok said that everybody's freedom is under threat.

"Whatever your distance is to the political power, the developments threatening the freedom of press and independence of judiciary should be opposed all together.

"Because, in the countries where these principles do not work, it is inevitable that all of us will be mistreated. The matter is when and in what order this will happen." (HA/VK)