Journalist Seda Taşkın, who was behind bars for almost a year, has been released from prison. Speaking to bianet, Taşkın has said, “I feel a bittersweet happiness and this bittersweet feeling will continue until all imprisoned journalists in Turkey are released.”

123 journalists are behind bars. 36 journalists become defendants and suspects for “insulting Erdoğan.” 233 journalists face 10 aggravated life sentences, one life sentence, 2,522 years, 10 months in prison and 4 million TRY in damages in total.

The 13th hearing of the KCK Press case, which has been continuing for seven years, has been held. The next hearing of the case will be held on May 9, 2019.

Journalist Tunca Öğreten and writer Perihan Mağden have been each sentenced to pay a judicial fine of 7 thousand Turkish Lira for insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

January 10 Working Journalists’ Day, which used to be celebrated as a “festival” in the 1960s and has been celebrated as a “day” since the 1970s, has turned into “the day of journalists who cannot work.”

Journalist Metin Göktepe has been commemorated on the 23rd anniversary of his killing. Carnations and Evrensel newspaper were laid on his grave.

The compensation penalty given to arrested politician Eren Erdem for insulting Treasury and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak has been upheld by the court of appeal.

The first hearing has been held in the lawsuit filed against journalist Hasan Cemal on charge of “propagandizing for a terrorist organization” due to his article “From Silvan: They have so accustomed us to deaths” published on December 4, 2015.

A lawsuit has been filed against Bülent Şık due to his article series entitled “The state has concealed the carcinogen products, we are making them public,” which was published on Cumhuriyet newspaper. Şık has been facing up to 12 years in prison.

Submitting a parliamentary question to be responded by the Minister of Interior, main opposition CHP MP Ali Şeker has stated that the Siirt Mufti has openly targeted odaTV news website by reminding Charlie Hebdo massacre.

The Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has launched an investigation against Fox TV anchor Fatih Portakal for what he said on a news bulletin. President Erdoğan previously threatened Portakal, saying “This nation will hit you in the back of your neck.”

Press Council Chair Pınar Türenç has announced the 2018 report of the council, which evaluates the year in terms of press and expression freedom.

Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) has fined FOX TV and Halk TV for “inciting the public to enmity and hatred.” Accordingly, FOX Prime News Bulletin cannot be broadcast for three days and the “Halk Arenası” program on Halk TV for eight times.

Tuğba Bulut, an employee of the Yeni Yaşam newspaper, has been arrested. One of the reasons for Bulut's arrest is her social media posts.

Journalist Hakan Gülseven, who was arrested because of the compensation penalties that he did not pay, has been released after his former employer made the payment.

Three events to be held at Middle East Technical University (METU) on December 19 have been banned on the pretext of “electoral process.” Presidency of the university has also closed METU Media Community, which was reporting the protests at METU.

Journalist Hakan Gülseven will serve 350 days in prison, in exchange for a 7,000 Turkish Lira (~1330 USD) compensation penalty that he did not pay.

The Vice President has announced that press cards of 1954 journalists have been canceled in the past three years. CHP MP Sertel has said that occupational organizations should be included in the press card commission.

The Press Council has pointed to the possible negative outcomes of the recent amendments to the press cards regulation. In a written statement, the council has called for cancellation of the regulation.

Berivan Bila, the student who has been released after getting arrested for an article that she wrote entitled “Journalism is not a Crime”, has told that she will not give up journalism.