TGC Willing to Distribute Press Cards to Journalists

Journalists Society of Turkey (TGC) and police authorities in Istanbul held a joint conference in Istanbul’s Press Museum this morning, discussing “the issues in the relationship between media representatives and law enforcement officers, and resolution recommendations”. 

Journalists demanded police authorities to recognize a press card issued by TGC, as well as Interior Ministry to activate media spokesperson unit and end police violence towards media representatives. 

The meeting attracted a crowd of 30 people from various news organizations, as well as TGC General Secretary Sibel Güneş and Police Supervisor for Public and Media Relations Cihangir Baycan. 

“Journalists stuck between news and law enforcement”

Sibel Güneş said they would launch a research to issue a press card that could be recognized by police authorities and share their results to Interior Ministry. 

“Our colleagues face issues while covering social events regardless of being a press card holder. Journalists get stuck in between news and law enforcement. Our colleagues are doing some sort of public inspection here.

"Another important issues is journalists’ access to information. They need to access their information sources in an efficient way.   Interior Ministry activate its media spokesperson unit. In addition to that, we are urging authorities to take their measures into effect regarding violence towards journalists.”

Police: Publish our corrections and notes

On the other hand, Cihangir Baycan underscored the importance of media’s role on informing people in a right manner.  

“While we are making sure that our citizens are safe, media is trying to assuring the public right to be informed. Most of the time, we are working on long and tiring shifts together. Sometimes, we observe communication accidents. In order to overcome these, we believe the continuation of a dialogue. We are aiming to provide a better service. We are also urging them to print corrections and notes submitted by police authorities regarding certain articles." (NV/BM)

* Click here to read the original article in Turkish.