‘Newspapers close down one by one in Turkey’

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The Federation of Journalists of Turkey (TGF) Council of Chairs convened for the 62nd time on December 13. The final declaration issued after the meeting has addressed the problems of journalists amid novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the state of the profession in the country.

While the meeting was attended by the chairs of 46 journalists' associations across Turkey, the final declaration of the Council has raised concerns that 17 journalists have so far died of coronavirus in the country and warned that the efforts of the state remain fruitless.

According to the declaration, the number of newspapers in the Anatolian press has dropped from 1,800 to 925 in four years. The association chairs have demanded that the Press Advertising Agency (BİK) and the Presidency's Communications Directorate take urgent measures to help the local press keep its head above the water.

The Council has also raised concerns about the journalists who have not yet been given their new or renewed press cards. Calling on the authorities to give journalists their press cards, the Council has underlined that press cards must be issued and distributed by professional organizations as in the case of other countries, not by a public institution as Turkey does.

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Some highlights from the final declaration are as follows:

"In a period when the Anatolian press has been going through a difficult time, the fact that newspapers are closing down one by one has become an indication of the economic hardships. Four years ago, the number of local newspapers receiving public ads was 1,800; it has now dropped to 925.

"It is inevitable that the Press Advertising Agency and the Communications Directorate take new measures to keep the Anatolian press alive.

"Considering the delay in giving press cards to our fellow journalists whose cards have expired or need to be renewed, this issue needs to be put into order as soon as possible. It needs to be ensured that press cards are given by a professional journalism organization to be authorized to do it, as it has also been the case all across the world.

"The introduction of the law on Internet media and assigning a status to it is a must to eliminate the aggrievements.

"The Anatolian press is having problems in terms of the constant violence against journalists. The government and politicians must support our fellow journalists and prevent these unfortunate incidents as soon as possible.

"The newspapers and TVs from Anatolia are frequently prevented from working in the Presidency's programs. We expect this to be regulated." (HA/SD)