Reporting Shifts But The Job Remains The Same - Updated

Michael Hedges February 20, 2023 - Follow on Twitter

Disasters strike. Some are man-made, like war in Ukraine. Others are natural, which is not to imply easier to comprehend. Nature has a way of astonishing us; from the beautiful to the tragic. News agencies and reporters rush to the scene. There are many stories to tell. Listeners, viewers and readers want to know right now.

Turkish authorities have again ramped up restrictions on news coverage. Not that busting reporters and editors or pushing critical outlets to vanish has been far from the surface. In the near twenty-year reign of ever-more authoritarian ruler Recep Tayyip Erdogan, first as prime minister then president, hammering critics, often in the news media, has been a hallmark. He is immersed in being in control. People are regularly jailed for “insulting” Mr. Erdogan.

Powerful earthquakes hit southern Turkey and northern Syria over several hours two weeks ago. It is a geologically sensitive area, three big fissures colliding over centuries. These events are quite predictable, taking the long scientific view, but always a shock. Buildings “pancaked,” one floor crashing onto the next, then the next, then the next. More than 60 thousand buildings, many residential, were destroyed in Turkey within those first hours.

News coverage grew exponentially during that first week with horrific video of the destruction was punctuated by the ever increasing death toll tallies. International news agencies and correspondents raced to the scenes in Turkey side by side with search and rescue teams. Reporting from Syria was far more restricted due to widespread civil conflict and Western sanctions. Authorities in Turkey, blindsided by the destruction, carefully watched the media coverage.

Hours after the initial major earthquake (February 6), media regulator Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) chairperson Ebubekir Sahin warned outlets of the legal obligation “not to share information which harms the search and rescue efforts in the earthquake area and causes panic and disinformation. It is not possible for us to ignore the organizations that make manipulative broadcasts with malicious intent.” The next day president Erdogan, announcing a three-month state of emergency on the affected areas, cautioned against spreading disinformation. “Our prosecutors will identify those who try to create social chaos through some inhumane methods and take the necessary action. We are closely monitoring those who are trying to polarize the nation through fake news and distortions.” Guillaume Perrier, a reporter for French weekly Le Point, was denied entry to Turkey (February 8) when border authorities “discovered” he had been banned from the country last November for being a “threat to national security.”

Five days later, Mr. Sahin reiterated his warning. “Broadcasters who insist on being wrong despite all our well-intentioned warnings are meticulously followed by RTÜK experts and necessary reports are made,” reported Cumhuriyet (February 11). He then offered “infinite thanks to our media” for participating in a marathon broadcast promoting a joint aid campaign,” noted state news agency Anadolu Agency (February 15).

Press freedom and journalism advocates, not predisposed to favor the Erdogan regime due to the arrest and harassment history, noted the story changing. Ever-increasing death tolls - now exceeding 46,000 - and fewer “miracle rescues” were replaced by corruption, incompetence and discrimination against Syrian refugee. Several local Turkish reporters were “detained,” noted International Press Institute (IPI) (February 9), for “filming without permission” and “openly inciting the public to hatred and enmity.”

“One of the unchanging policies of the (Erdogan) government is to control the current debate or agenda in the country,” said Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) Turkey representative Ozgur Ogret, quoted by VOA (February 16). “We have seen that this reflex is also present in the earthquake. In devastated cities, it is unusual for the security forces to be concerned about whether the government or the state is praised or not while people are in trouble.”

“The many restrictions, attacks, arrests and cases of intimidation of journalists are alarming and must stop at once,” wrote Reporters sans Frontieres (RSF) Turkey representative Erol Onderoglu. “Reporters who have been sent to the devastated cities are just doing their job and are working in terrible circumstances. Their reporting is proving to be more essential than ever for everyone.” RSF estimates 20 media workers have died as a result of the recent earthquakes.

UPDATE: Authorities in Turkey have, again, gone above and beyond in that never ending quest to spare themselves and - of course - president Recep Tayyip Erdogan from criticism. This week national media regulator Supreme Radio and Television Council (RTÜK), never missing an opportunity to punish and intimidate critical news outlets, imposed stiff fines and suspensions on three television channels for, arguably, independent reporting about earthquake disaster recovery efforts, reported Turkish media news portal Medyascope (February 22). Journalism advocates protested strenuously.

The RTÜK fined Halk TV 5% of its January revenues and programs suspended for airing a report that featured an opposition politician and a further 3% for referring to government disaster relief efforts as “slow and ineffective.” Tele 1 TV was fined 5% of revenues for its reporters voicing criticism of President Erdogan and his policies. Fox TV was fined 3% of revenues, with programs suspended, for airing critical comments.

“All these penalties were based on the post-earthquake comments and news,” said dissenting RTÜK council member Ilhan Tasci. “We are living in a period where making news is considered a crime, but cursing publicly is considered ‘freedom’. Not conveying the truth and not making the cries of thousands of our citizens be heard is a shame, a crime, and a betrayal of the journalism profession.”

“Apparently, RTÜK perceives journalism as dealing with the government's public relations,” said Turkish Journalists Association (TGC) in a statement. “These penalties also give clues about how RTÜK will put pressure on the media as the general elections approach.” Presidential and parliamentary elections are scheduled for mid-June.

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