Journalists are employed under insecure conditions, with low wages and flexible hours; insecurity and pressure are at an all-time high.
Restrictive Legislation for Online Content
↑GROWING
Restrictive Legislation for Online Content
The practice of suspended sentences (HAGB) and “disinformation” cases are a constant threat for journalists.
Number of Journalism Students
↓DECLINING
Number of Journalism Students
Key actors emphasized that pursuing journalism today carries high risks, including the threat of prosecution for even minor social media posts.
Level of Trust in the Media
↓DECLINING
Level of Trust in the Media
Trust has shifted from institutions to people. Audiences rely on X/YouTube and named journalists, while mistrusting “centre media.”
Summary of Considerations by Key Actors
Monopolized Ownership, Fragile Trust, and Audience Disengagement
The second phase of the Future of the Media research engaged focus groups with citizens in Istanbul and Mardin, and media workers and citizens with high cultural and social capital and influence. Using the analysis of the focus groups, this study explored perceptions of the media’s democratic role, challenges facing journalism, and expectations for the future of the media in Turkey.
Overall, participants’ visions of the future of the media oscillated between cautious hope and a kind of deep pessimism: while some underlined the need for new spaces, inclusive narratives, and solidarity-based resistance, others stressed structural change, warning that without confronting monopolization and political capture, journalism will remain a struggle for survival. Despite differing perspectives, there was also a shared call to reimagine the media as both an educational space and a strategic field of democratic struggle.
Here, we list the main findings from the report:
Media freedom is structurally constrained; legal pressure, ownership concentration, and political control shape the field. To safeguard journalism’s democratic role, plural ownership and effective enforcement of existing regulations (e.g. the press law) are essential.
Legal risks (e.g. cases related to the new legislation on “disinformation” or “suspended sentences”), economic fragility, and platform monopolies (ads/ distribution) undermine viability. It is vital to diversify revenue (reader support, memberships, grants) and ensure fairer access to public funds as well as establishing collective bargaining and safer working conditions.
Democracy is seen as present but incomplete. Participation often narrows to elections; daily civic freedoms feel precarious. Protecting access to information and de-criminalizing routine reporting are prerequisites for healthier participation.
Journalism remains a public service first. Across groups, its core mission is to inform for the public interest. Ethical standards and verification are the practices that rebuild trust and democratic impact.
Trust has shifted from institutions to people. Audiences rely on X/YouTube and named journalists, while mistrusting “centre media.” Transparency (sources, funding), cross-checking, and slow/explanatory formats can rebuild outlet-level trust.
Representation is still lacking: Minorities, women, and LGBTI+s are under- or misrepresented. Inclusiveness and editorial safeguards against hate speech should be standard.
Media proliferation is not real media plurality: The number of media outlets may have grown, but uniformity and polarization have deepened. Top of Form Anti-monopoly measures, interoperable distribution, and collaborative editorial desks can turn variety into actual diversity.
Reader engagement and curiosity are decisive: Specifically media workers underlined that public support is largely absent, many readers expect free news, weakening sustainability. At the same time, a lack of societal curiosity was seen as limiting demand for in-depth journalism. Strengthening reader contributions, subscriptions, and civic engagement is therefore essential for the future of media.
Future outlook: Despite pessimism, participants see opportunity in coalitions and collaborations among journalists, CSOs, academia, the arts, and in formats that educate and persistently follow issues. Collective action, unions, and audience backing are central to resilience.
Democratic Decline, Economic and Political Pressures, Urgency for Reforms
The state of the media and democracy in Turkey faces critical challenges that hinder freedom of expression and pluralism, due to restrictive legal frameworks, economic instability, and cross-ownership in the media sector. Although digitalization has transformed news consumption, the government’s control over online platforms increases concerns about censorship and reinforces practices of self-censorship.
Public trust in the media continues to decline, driven by perceptions of political influence and biased reporting. Similarly, democracy is plagued with issues, as global rankings point to decline in Turkish democracy, while concerns about judicial independence persist. While elections with high voter turnout do occur, this may only be interpreted as a pattern of practicing democracy rather than a sign of democratic strength.
Urgent and comprehensive reforms are needed to ensure judicial independence, create a pluralistic media environment, increase transparency, and protect press freedom.
Here we list the main conclusions extracted from the report:
Restrictive Legal Frameworks: Laws such as the Turkish Penal Code and the Anti-Terrorism Law create the potential for widespread self-censorship in news production.
Economic Pressures:Rising inflation and economic instability erode journalists’ incomes, adversely affecting the sustainability of independent media.
Concentration of Media Ownership and Lack of Pluralistic Media: Media ownership in Turkey is concentrated in the hands of companies that have close ties to the Justice and Development Party (AKP) and are involved in public tenders. Laws and regulations must be amended to prevent cross-ownership, including ownership in non-media sectors. Additionally, Google’s algorithms heavily favour pro-government media in Turkey, significantly limiting the visibility of independent media outlets and those publishing content that challenges pro-government narratives.
Government Pressure:Regulatory mechanisms fail to prevent monopolies, and government control over advertisement distribution (e.g. through BİK) and sanctions by regulatory bodies (e.g. RTÜK) further restrict independent reporting. The public service broadcaster, Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT), continues to reflect the government’s official stance.
New Regulations Impacting the Digital Media Environment: While digital platforms democratize access to information, laws like the 2020 social media law and the 2022 “disinformation law” (Article 217/A of the Turkish Penal Code) have increased government control over content. Access blocks to contents critical about the government given by Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) are also part of this control.
Declining Media Trust and Media Literacy: Public trust in the media is eroding due to political influence, further polarizing society. There is a critical need to improve digital media literacy skills.
Underrepresented Groups in News and Newsrooms: Not only dissenting voices but also women, LGBTIQ+ community, minorities, and non-Turkish communities are marginalized in the media, negatively impacting diversity. Gender inequality is evident in media organizations, and gender equality policies must be urgently developed across all media institutions.
Concerns About Judicial Independence and Transparency: The perception of a lack of judicial impartiality and transparency issues undermine public trust in democratic institutions. The transparency and fairness of online political advertising, especially during election periods, must be regulated and monitored.
Democratic Stagnation: Turkey’s position on the Global Democracy Index is showing a decline; while elections with high voter turnout do occur, this may only be interpreted as a pattern of practicing democracy rather than a sign of democratic strength.
Urgency of Reforms: To build democracy and independent media, reforms aimed at ensuring judicial independence, fostering a pluralistic media environment, enhancing transparency, and establishing effective self-regulation mechanisms must be implemented.
