P24 marks World Press Freedom Day with panel

P24 held a panel discussion on press capture and its implications for ensuring journalistic standards in Turkey to mark this year’s World Press Freedom Day.

The panel featured Nur Deriş, a former academic and author of recent work on the founders of the Tan newspaper Zekeriya and Sabiha Sertel; Ayla Jean Yackley, a freelance journalist who covered Turkey for nearly two decades for many leading news organizations; and Güldenay Sonumut, a senior news producer for Sky News who previously worked in many major Turkish mainstream news outlets. The panel was moderated by journalist and P24’s co-founder Andrew Finkel.

The panelists delved into the historical and contemporary relevance of the topic, citing examples from the early Republic era with the Tan newspaper to more recent cases of press capture in the 1990s and beyond. They explored how the media’s duty to serve the common good was often overshadowed by the pursuit of narrow, private interests. The speakers raised thought-provoking questions about the potential for Turkish media to reestablish the principles of good and ethical journalism in a highly polarized and precarious media environment.

The Swedish Consulate in Istanbul hosted the event, which gathered representatives from the media, civil society, academia, and diplomatic missions. 

P24 thanks the Swedish Consulate for their generous support and warm hospitality in hosting this significant event.