'Local journalists face increasing economic pressure from local interest groups'

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The Contemporary Journalists' Association (ÇGD) has released a statement about increasing pressure and attacks on local journalists following armed and arson attacks over the past month.

"Local press is of indispensable importance for the existence and empowerment of democracy in the country. One of the democratic mechanisms that allows those who live in cities to have an influence on the city government is local press," it said.

"Unfortunately, some problems that seem to be local scale are the problems of the country. Problems such as rent-seeking, bribery, favoritism, mafia, benefit-oriented political gangs, corruption have become gangrene in Anatolian cities.

"Unfortunately, local journalists who defend the people's right to information by performing their journalistic duty are often targeted in attacks and have difficulties making their voices heard on a national level.

"Moreover, they are trying to survive with very little income because of the practices of short-time work allowance and unpaid leave during the pandemic. Our colleagues, who try to continue journalism under these conditions, often have to struggle for existence under the economic grip of local interest groups."

Recent investigations and attacks against local journalists

An armed attack was carried out against the residence of Yakup Kocabaş, a journalist from a local newspaper in Antalya province and a vehicle of Nevşehir Journalists Association has been set on fire in an arson attack. 

Şaban Önen, the Grant Holder of Karacabey Yörem newspaper, was attacked by relatives of a district mayor from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). 

Local journalist Özgür Boğatekin was handed a prison sentence for reporting on corruption in the Adıyaman province.

An investigation was opened against the publisher of Jiyan Haber, İdris Yayla, for "provoking the public to hatred, hostility or degrading" over a report on a woman's rape by a military officer in the eastern province of Batman. (HA/VK)