The Journalists’ Union of Turkey (TGS) announced its 2024-2025 Press Freedom Report on May 3, World Press Freedom Day.
At a press conference held at the TGS Academy, TGS General President Gökhan Durmuş stated that journalists have left behind a year of courthouses, prisons and police stations and said, “The cure for anti-democratic practices is free journalism.”
According to the data in the report, at least 29 journalists were imprisoned in the last year and 17 journalists are still in prison. 313 investigations, 123 detentions, 90 summonses to testify, 212 lawsuits and 311 trial files were opened against journalists. As a result of these cases, a total of 137 years and 23 days in prison and a judicial fine of 161,980 TL were imposed.
The report also includes the economic conditions of journalists. According to a survey conducted by the TGS, half of journalists feel poor, the majority of them state that their purchasing power has decreased, and the rate of those who say they are ready to leave the profession is also noteworthy.
The report stated that RTÜK imposed 59 administrative fines amounting to 87 million TL and reminded that SZC TV’s screen was blacked out for 10 days and Açık Radio’s terrestrial broadcasting license was revoked.
TGS emphasized that the solution lies in union organization.
May 3, 2025
Türkiye Gazeteciler Sendikası