Implemented by the Association of Journalists and financed by the European Union the Media for Democracy/Democracy for Media Programme’s weekly journalist meetings hosted Semra Topçu at the Press House this week. Topçu, whose speech was titled “Being Unemployed as a Journalist in Turkey”, touched upon reasons for unemployment of journalists in Turkey, the similarity of headlines between pro-government papers, the development of digital media in Turkey and the oppression the State of Emergency has caused. Topçu began her speech by referring to the five journalists attacked in May and made the following remarks “Uğur Mumcu once famously said “We have been shot my dear people, do not forget us!” We, as journalists, continue to be shot, we have been made redundant, removed from television screens, the pen we hold dearly has been taken away from us. It doesn’t stop there, people have recently resorted to attacking journalists they don’t like. We are living in dark times. I wanted to start my speech by referring to these facts, because we are practising journalism in a country that denies journalists the right to live.”

The current situation is closely linked to the level of democracy in Turkey said Topçu and reminded that Turkey placed 157^th out of 180 countries in the World Freedom of the Press Index prepared by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). Investigative journalism has also been punished remarked Topçu and recalled the 13-month prison sentence handed to Pelin Ünker for her articles on the “Paradise Papers”. Topçu said “This whole problem is closely linked to the level of democracy in our country. We are confronted with the problem of people not demanding their right to free access to news but also the relation between politics and the media. The media is an institution where people are employed to inform the public on behalf of the public. Information and the dissemination of information are democratic rights, members of the media provide this service through organizations they are tied to on behalf of the public. An important piece of information the RSF report provides us is that investigative journalism is being punished. Ünker receiving a prison sentence for her journalism is just one example among many.”

According to Topçu, Vice-President of Turkey Fuat Oktay has cancelled 2 thousand 397 press cards in the last three years “The number of press cards in on 29 November 2018 was 15 thousand 202, in April 2019 this number dropped to 14 thousand 759. Since everything is being run a by a single man, we are awaiting the approval of our press-cards issued by the Presidential Palace. According to the latest figures of Barış Yarkadaş 173 media organizations were shut-down, three thousand people were left unemployed, 141 journalists were in prison and 800 journalists’ press-cards were cancelled and 800 journalists’ passports were confiscated during the State of Emergency.”

Unemployment among journalists is caused by monopolization of capital in the media sector, media organizations having been shut-down after the 15 July coup attempt, increased oppression by the government and reduction in unions recorded Topçu and added “While talking about de-unionization I’d like you draw your attention to the general situation in this context. The Journalists’ Union of Turkey (TGS) has stated it has 1.260 members, there are more than 10 thousand media workers in Turkey. We need to specifically examine the last 17 years.”

 “We need to differentiate between being pro-government and being a journalist”

Topçu made the following comments on how pro-government papers have been giving the same headlines:

“We need to realize that these problems go back to before the AKP. There was a significant shift in media ownership in 2002 just before the AKP took power. The law regarding radio and television broadcast was amended. AKP found itself in this system, the power of media bosses continued during their first term but in its second term the AKP provided us with the term “pool media” which consisted of pro-government media outlets. In 2004, Star Newspaper of Uzan was sold to TMSF, and then later to Ethem Sancak. Then came the others, and in 2007 the AKP was able to establish the “pool media”. In that period, many media organizations and large tenders were handed over. What happened between Turgay Ciner and Dinç Bilgin, how the Sabah ATV group changed hands and was given to Çalık Group are important things we should not forget. Individuals close to the AKP started to become media bosses in this period, whereas large media organizations like Doğan Group were put under pressure and journalists were being made redundant. One of those to first lose their jobs was Emin Çölaşan from Hürriyet. Following the 15 July Coup attempt the FETÖ media was purged.

Today, 90% of the media is under the influence of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and pro-government media. It has been reported that the Demirören Group owns 76% of the media. This monopolization has caused the same headlines to being published, the same columns being written, the same lies such as the Kabataş incident being published and distributed. This of course is not journalism. We need to differentiate between being pro-government and being a journalist so we can tell the public about it. Otherwise people would be right when they say the trust in journalism has declined. But we have also observed that the people are aware of everything, the slanted system the AKP established has shot itself in the foot.”

Topçu, who was made redundant following the 31 March Local Elections made these comments about the importance of digital media for unemployed journalists: “When I was made redundant, I thought to myself could there be such a thing as an unemployed journalist? There simply couldn’t be, we create our own channels. The old saying “A good scare is worth more than good advice” rings true. AKP created a system where journalists are unemployed because of their journalistic activities but of course this void has been filled. Journalists have established their own channels through social media, blogs, YouTube channels, online journals etc. digital media has become a hope for us all. In recent years online media has been a safe haven for journalists fired from mainstream media outlets. Important outlets are news sites such as T24, Duvar, Diken and Bianet. These portals provide people with alternative view-points and high-quality journalism but they do not have the necessary finances to practise investigative journalism. There is a cost to produce news, in the past media bosses compensated for this. In other words, the situation could be summed up like this “he who pays the piper calls the tune”. Digital media gives us hope, despite membership and donations not being widespread in Turkey they are rapidly increasing in the world.

Unemployment in the journalism sector is at a historical high

Topçu remarked that Turkey has not been able to solve its unemployment problem “According to TUİK (Turkish Statistical Institute) employment numbers of 2018, journalism ranks second in unemployment rates. Official figures state that one in four journalists are unemployed. Unemployment has been increasing at a rate of 4.7% annually and is currently at 23.8%. It has been recorded that following the financial crisis of 2001, around 5 thousand journalists were left redundant. It would be safe to say that unemployment in Turkey is at a record high; unemployment in the journalism sector is at a historical high, too. The opportunities digital media presents for journalists and being able to access these opportunities are very important. I hope to see similar endeavours such as the Association of Journalists’ Press House. I would also like to see stronger unionization in journalism because it is very difficult to continue the struggle by yourself. Developments in digital media can help establish free and independent channels for journalists. This has especially been a topic of discussion in Europe, thanks to subscriptions you can circumvent pressures from media bosses. Therefore, it is important to be active in professional organizations to develop this field. Maybe not today, but I do hope free and independent journalism will be practised in the future.”