The Turkish Journalists Association rewarded bianet with this year's award for press freedom. bianet was awarded as an institution for "their work in the field of alternative and rights-based journalism and for their efforts in the fields of developing democracy, the right to be informed and settling the conscience of the people".
The individual awards were given to Sedat Ergin, writer for the nation-wide Hürriyet newspaper, and to journalists Vedat Kurşun, İsmail Saymaz and İrfan Aktan "on behalf of journalists facing prison threats and currently being detained".
The award giving ceremony will be held on 24 July at the Dolmabahçe Palace on the European banks of the Bosporus.
Ergin was awarded for his works and contributions to the protection of press freedom throughout his whole life and during the past year in particular.
He received a prison sentence for an article published in the Aktan Express magazine. Radikal newspaper reporter Saymaz has eight trials pending on the grounds of seven news items. Kurşun, former editor-in-chief of the Kurdish Azadiya Welat newspaper is in prison after he had been handed a 169-year sentence.
21st year
This year's jury met on 7 July and was joined by the following members:
Milliyet newspaper writer Altan Öymen, Teoman Ergül from the Turkish Bar Association, Ercan İpekçi from the Turkish Journalists Union, Çetin Tüzüner from the Turkish Publishers Association, Prof. Dr Nurçay Türkoğlu from the Communications and Research Association, Prof. Dr Yasemin Giritli İnceoğlu from the Galatasaray University, Prof. Dr Peyami Çelikcan from the Maltepe University, Assoc. Prof. Dr Esra Arsan from the Communication Graduates Association, Türkiye Gazeteciler Cemiyeti'nden Nail Güreli from the Turkish Journalists Association, Turgay Olcayto and Sibel Güneş.
The award is given since 1989. Journalists Nedim Şener and Rıza Türmen were awarded in the individual branches. The award for an institution was not given last year. (EÜ/VK)
