“Where there are journalists, there is light” Association of Journalists Report on the Change of Media Ownership Structure and its Effects Association of Journalists titled “Association of Journalists - Where there are rightful place among the respected professional or- Administrative Board journalists, there is light.” ganizations of our country thanks to the reassurance it About Association of Journalists has provided over the years. Chairman The Association of Journalists was founded on Nazmi Bilgin 10 January 1946 by journalists Mekki Sait Esen, Ni- Press Card Commission, Deputy Chairman yazi Acun, Aka Gündüz, Bilal Akba, Adil Akba, Public Advertisements Agency Savaş Kıratlı Sebahattin Sönmez and Muvaffak Menemencioğlu. The Press Card, which is obtained by being em- The founding purpose of the association was to unite ployed in the field of journalism for a particular Vice Chairmen journalists in different press organs under one roof, amount of time, is among the things that a journalist Ertürk Yöndem, Ayhan Aydemir, improve professional and social rights, and to safe- cannot do without. Yusuf Kanlı guard the rights and freedoms of journalism which are After careful assessment, the commission grants imperative to the profession. Press Cards to journalists who have worked a certain Secretary General Founding chairman Mekki Sait Esen headed the amount of time strictly in the field of journalism while Ümit Gürtuna Association of Journalists between 1946 and 1956, he observing the principles of professional integrity and was succeeded by former senator Ecvet Güresin be- adhering to the ethics and standards of journalism. Financial Secretary tween 1956-1957. The commission is represented by the Chairman of Mustafa Yoldaş Gazanfer Kurt, founder and owner of Kudret the Association of Journalists, Nazmi Bilgin, in the Newspaper, headed the association until 1959, then Public Advertisements Agency. After 18 years of Members Atilla Bartınlıoğlu took over until 1960. Former CHP continuous membership in the administrative board of Güray Soysal, Ali Şimşek, Ali Oruç, Önder member of parliament Altan Öymen was chairman of the Public Advertisements Agency, our association Yılmaz, Önder Sürenkök, Olgunay Köse and the association between 1960 and 1961, he was later continues to be a member of the General Board. Nursun Erel succeeded by İbrahim Cüceoğlu in 1961. Metin Toker became chairman of the Association of Journalists in Turkish Federation of Journalists, * * * 1962, after having served a 7 month and 53-day prison Confederation of Turkish Journalists This Report was prepared by the Association of sentence in 1957. The Association of Journalists was able to Journalists “Press for Freedom / Özgürlük İçin Founding owner of Ekspress Newspaper Doğan unite 75 different journalists’ associations in Turkey Basın” Working Group Kasaroğlu took over as chairman in 1963 until 1968, through its hard work. The Association of Journal- he was later appointed as general manager of TRT. ists, with its moral and material support, was instru- * * * Beyhan Cenkçi, who worked in positions such as mental in establishing the Turkish Federation of Jour- managing editor, writer, editor-in-chief and executive Freedom of Expression and Freedom of the Press nalists. Nazmi Bilgin have served 12 years consecu- editor for Yenigün, Ulus, Ankara Telgraf, Ankara Ek- tively as head of the Federation. Our association is National Committee spres and Dünya newspapers, was also chairman of Chairman also a member of the Confederation of Journalists of the Turkish Journalists Union for five years. Cenkçi, Turkey. Prof. Dr. Korkmaz Alemdar who received a one-and-a-half-year prison sentence Jurist Member along with some of his colleagues, was elected as Turkish Armed Forces “Elele” Foundation Atty. Tuncay Alemdaroğlu chairman of the Association of Journalists in 1969. The Association of Journalists carried out one Senior Journalists He continued to serve as chairman of the Association of the most comprehensive and meaningful social Nursun Erel and Sedat Bozkurt of Journalists until 1992. Cenkçi also served as sena- awareness campaigns “Haydi Türkiye, Mehmetçikle NGO Representative (Senior Journalist, Head of the tor in the Senate of the Republic during his 24 years Elele” (Come on Turkey, Join Hands with our sol- Parliament Reporters’ Association) as president of the Association of Journalists. diers) with the incredible awareness and trust of our Göksel Bozkurt Nazmi Bilgin, who started his professional ca- nation, and have raised 65 million dollars for the reer in 1971 in Son Havadis Newspaper, worked as “Mehmetçik Foundation” in 1995. The “Turkish * * * editor-in-chief and owner of Güneş newspaper. He Armed Forces Elele Foundation”, which was headed later served as news director at Dünya Newspaper. Press for Freedom by General İsmail Hakkı Karadayı, showed its ap- Bilgin also worked as the parliament and presidency preciation by inviting our association to join its ranks Working Group Coordinator correspondent for Tercüman newspaper. After having Yusuf Kanlı as the only civilian institution. The foundation, in taken part in the founding of TRT-2, he worked as which we were represented by Nazmi Bilgin, estab- Assistant Coordinator “senior correspondent” and “general manager con- Seva Ülman Erten lished “the TAF Rehabilitation and Care Centre” for sultant” in TRT for five years. Bilgin served as vice our veterans. The centre was put into service in 1999, Editor chairman and secretary general for 14 years for the it is considered a “Monument of Gratitude” to the Yıldız Yazıcıoğlu Association of Journalists and was elected as chair- martyrs and veterans of the Turkish nation. Researchers man unanimously in 1992. Bilgin, who founded the Dicle Kavak, Naz Akman and Federation of Journalists in Turkey in 1996, served as Sultan Yavuz its chairman until 2009. He is now the honorary chair- man of the Comnfederation of Turkish Journalists As- * * * sociations. Bilgin served as the Ankara correspondent for Telephone: +90 (312) 427 15 22 Fax: +90 (312) 468 23 84 BRT television, where he produced and presented “Zirve”; he also produced and presented “Politika E-Mail: [email protected] Kulvarı” which aired on TRT-1. Bilgin, who also Website: www.gazetecilercemiyeti.org.tr served as a member and supervisor in the Turkish Na- www.pressforfreedom.org tional Commission of UNESCO, continues to serve as © Address: Üsküp Caddesi (Çevre Sk.) a member of the board of directors for the Press Ad- No:35, Çankaya, Ankara vertisement Agency, and he is a member of the board of trustees, board of directors of the Turkish Armed The Association of Journalists Press for Free- Forces “Elele Foundation.” dom Working Group, aims to reach policy-makers The Association of Journalists is as old as Tur- through an independent platform comprised of civil key’s transition to a multi-party system, or in other society representatives and people working in the me- words its transition to a pluralist democracy. The as- dia sector; to create awareness by exposing violations sociation started its journey with only a handful of of the freedom of expression and freedom of the press and its current legal status; and to improve the capac- * * * journalists, today it has more than 2000 members. It ity of civil society representatives and people working has financial independence and has become one of Turkey’s oldest, largest and most respected profes- in the media through workshops and conferences. sional and non-governmental organizations. The Association of Journalists’ Press for Free- Since its beginning in 1946, the Association of dom has been regularly publishing reports on viola- Journalists has relentlessly stood by its country, and tions of the freedom of expression and freedom of the has vigilantly defended the republic, its pluralist de- press since March 2014. Cover Photo: Cosmic Creative mocracy, the freedom of expression and freedom of The prestigious “Kırmızı Reklam” awards were held the press. The Association of Journalists has taken its The Association of Journalists takes full re- on May 26, for the 13th time. Cosmic Creative was sponsibility for the reports prepared by using open- awarded the Kırmızı Jury Special Award for its work sources, media research, applications and reports Association of Journalists Report on the Change of Media Ownership Structure and its Effects Press for Freedom made to the project’s office; this content can be repro- duced in part or in full by giving reference and it can be used in scientific publications. 3 Association of Journalists Report on the Change of Media Ownership Structure and its Effects Press for Freedom Report on the Change of Media Ownership Structure and its Effects An Association of Journalists Publication Prepared by the Press for Freedom Working Group of the Association of Journalists. This report belongs to the Association of Journalists. This content can be reproduced in part or in full by giving reference and can be used in scientific publications. 4 Association of Journalists Report on the Change of Media Ownership Structure and its Effects Press for Freedom Contents Introduction................................................................................................................................................................. 6 TMSF: Leading actor in shaping the media .................................................................................................. 6 Reward or punishment according to relations with the government