Long-time journalist Andrew Finkel joined Turkey recap editor Diego Cupolo to discuss media culture and media capture in Turkey under the Pres. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Having contributed to both international and Turkish media outlets, Finkel has a unique perspective on news in Turkey. He witnessed the transformation of mainstream media from the 1990s till the present day, in which about 90 percent of the sector is pro-government or owned by government-friendly companies.

In this episode, we cover the AKP’s consolidation of mainstream media, what that means for people following news about Turkey, and we connect those trends with the current state of free speech and politics in Turkey … possibly, providing examples or warnings for countries experiencing similar threats to free speech, like the US.

Finkel is also co-founder of P24, a non-profit platform for independent journalism and free expression in Turkey, and author of the book: “The Adventure of the Second Wife: The Strange Case of Abdülahamid and Sherlock Holmes”.

Also referenced in this talk:

The Crack in Everything (P24)

Tales from the Turkish newsroom: Why Newspapers Sometimes Lie (Anglo-Turkish Society)

Turkey: What Everyone Needs to Know (Oxford University Press)

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Diego Cupolo, Editor-in-chief

Emily Rice Johnson, Deputy editor

Günsu Durak, Turkey recap Türkçe editor

Ceren Bayar, Parliament correspondent

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