With Their Press Cards Still Not Issued, Journalists Wait for an Answer from the State

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"For two years, the system of the Directorate of Communications says that 'Your application is being examined."

"Why cannot you come to a decision on my journalism? I am waiting for an immediate answer."

"Apparently, they have been debating whether I am a journalist or not for three years."

"I received my press card in 1976. I made an application and requested its renewal. What is it about me that they evaluate? It is such a shame..."

The color of yellow press cards has been recently changed into turquoise. Journalists who applied for the renewal of their press cards as the previous ones would no longer be valid after their date of expiry as well as the ones who applied for a press card for the first time have been waiting for an explanation for months as to why they have not yet received their cards.

When journalists visit the website of the Presidency Directorate of Communications and make an inquiry about the status of their applications, they see that their press cards have been either "revoked" or their applications have been "referred to the Directorate." However, none of them has yet received a clear answer or explanation from the authorities.

However, in a statement released on October 23, 2019, it was announced that 3,804 press cards were cancelled in the last five years and the total number of press card holders was 12,735.

In late October 2019, Vice President Fuat Oktay responded to a Parliamentary question by main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) MP Fethi Gürer. In his answer to the MP, Vice President Oktay announced that 863 cards were canceled in 2015, 927 in 2016, 590 in 2017, 709 in 2018 and 715 in the first nine months of 2019.

According to the 2019 BİA Media Monitoring Report of Erol Önderoğlu, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Representative to Turkey, "press cards are now used as a means of pressure on journalists."

Waiting for their press cards, Tuğrul Eryılmaz (IPS Communication Foundation, T24 columnist), Eylem Nazlıer (Evrensel), Hüseyin Şimşek (Birgün), Meltem Akyol (Evrensel), Nadire Mater (bianet) and Sedat Yılmaz (Yeni Yaşam) have spoken to bianet about the issue. Journalists Association of Turkey Chair Turgay Olcayto has also shared his comments with us.

Tuğrul Eryılmaz: It is such a shame

It is being evaluated for months now. I have a press card for 45 years. I received my press card in 1976.

I have always had a press card for years. The cards of everyone have arrived, but mine has not. What is it about me that they are evaluating?

Everything about me is crystal-clear.

It is such a shame.

Eylem Nazlıer: It is really difficult to make news without a card

My friends from other newspapers who applied for a press card have received their cards. They wanted documents from me, I have submitted them. I uploaded my news to their system and I am still waiting.

When we work in the field, we can have some problems as we do not have press cards. They do not regard us as journalists because we do not possess the card given by the state. Sometimes, we are not allowed to follow the hearings at court. The police do not consider us to be journalists without seeing our press cards. I want them to give my due as soon as possible.

Hüseyin Şimşek: We are not allowed into meetings

We made an application when the color of the cards turned into turquoise. I have not yet received an answer. The press cards of our seven fellow journalists at daily BirGün have been revoked.

But, when we look at the e-state system or the website of the Department for Communication, it is written that our cards have been revoked. We encounter problems as our cards have been revoked or new cards have not been delivered. We are not allowed into the press statements of state institutions and official meetings. Bus drivers also ask for the turquoise card.

Meltem Akyol: I could not enter Canal İstanbul meeting

When you do not have a press card, you hand over your computer and phone to the security guards in Silivri Prison. I take notes on my notebook and write my news outside. But, If I had a press card, I could write the news on my computer and send it to the newspaper directly from the court hall.

For instance, recently, I was at the İstanbul Provincial Directorate of the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization to report on the objection raised against the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report of the Canal İstanbul project. The police did not allow me into the meeting as I did not have a press card.

I have been waiting for three years.

Nadire Mater: Having a press card or not... A problem in either way

I have always found it unnecessary and humiliating to have a press card. Because a journalism certified by the state is not something acceptable. It is apparently a fate that the chase after this card has turned into a struggle!

What does a press card do? Having a press card or not... It is a problem in either way. For instance, the police killed Metin Göktepe as he did not have a press card. There were times when I did not show my press card to avoid trouble. Power-holders had better not think that they have the "news" on the safe side. It is the news: It finds a way, it does not ask for a press card.

I am waiting for the Presidency to give me my card and an answer immediately. Our struggle to save the card from the state and to ensure that it is given by journalism organizations is - of course - going on.

Sedat Yılmaz: We were informed with a text message

When I woke up one morning in March 2016, I saw the message of the Prime Ministry Directorate General of Press and Information. The message was "Your press card has been revoked. Please return it to the relevant institution." Ahmet Davutoğlu, who has recently established the Future Party, was the Prime Minister at that time.

The press cards of journalist Mehmet Ali Çelebi and Önder Elaldı were confiscated with a message on the same day.

In response to our insistent questions, they told us that "it was because the institution had not been informed about the change of company." We did actually inform them about the change.

Daily Özgür Gündem was closed by a Statutory Decree after that. After us, this process has become more and more prevalent on all media.

Olcayto: We can no longer receive information

A very large number of people have appealed to us and expressed their concerns about their press cards not yet delivered to them. After the Prime Ministry Directorate General of Press and Information has been affiliated with the Presidency and renamed as Directorate of Communications, we no longer have the opportunity to get information from inside.

They have established a commission to their own liking and they no longer make any statements. They are doing their work in confidentiality and behind closed doors.

We will try to obtain a result with our fellow MPs who bring up the issue. In other countries, press cards are given by unions. They should be given by journalism organizations.

(HA/DB/SD)