RTÜK Chair cites ‘impartiality’, media authority probes Fox TV

Click to read the article in Turkish

In a midnight tweet, Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) Chair Ebubekir Şahin has announced that the RTÜK has launched an inquiry against Fox TV on the grounds of the criticism of Main News Bulletin Presenter Selçuk Tepeki about the government and the President.

According to Şahin, the remarks of Selçuk Tepeli were "in violation of the principle of impartiality, which is required by the press ethics."

RTÜK's Ebubekir Şahin has tweeted, "At media outlets' news bulletins, impartiality is a requirement of the press ethics. It is unacceptable that the FOX Main News presenter almost acts like an opposition leader. The [Audio-visual Media] Law no. 6112 stipulates this. An inquiry has been launched into the related presenter's attempts to mislead the public."

RTÜK member lashes out at the decision

İlhan Taşçı, a member of the RTÜK from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), has lashed out at the decision.

"When the palace is concerned, Ebubekir Şahin does not leave the door of critical media outlets. He unveils an inquiry against the ones who question the government's deeds, be that at midnight," Taşçı has said, accusing the RTÜK Chair of "acting like the spokesperson for the government and its observer at the television channels."

Tepeli asked, 'Where is the money?'

In the related main news bulletin, Selçuk Tepeli directly criticized the economic policies of President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, arguing that the privatized companies and the bosses exempted from paying taxes are getting richer. During the broadcast, Tepeli asked, "Where is this money, brother?"

RTÜK only fines critical channels

Only in 2021, Turkey's media watchdog RTÜK imposed 71 administrative fines on critical broadcasters, which accounted for 21 million 500 thousand Turkish Lira (TRY) in total. The related fines were imposed on Halk TV, Tele1 , Fox TV, KRT and HaberTürk TV channels.

Despite the complaints, pro-government channels such as A Haber, Ülke TV, Kanal 7, TV-NET and CNN Türk were not given fines. İlhan Taşçı argued that not even a single report was issued or brought to the Supreme Board about these channels for a year. As a matter of fact, there were over 100 thousand complaints about the related broadcasters. (HA/SD)