Taksim Square Archives - Committee to Protect Journalists

Reporter disparaged in Turkish parliament, journalists harassed

June 3, 2014 4:13 PM EDT

New York, June 3, 2014–The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by today’s reports that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Parliament called CNN journalist Ivan Watson a “flunky” and said the foreign press was “literally executing their duties as agents” in connection with the coverage of protests in Istanbul. The move follows the…

Would-Be Repressors Brandish ‘Ethics’ as Justification

February 12, 2014 2:23 AM EST

Calls for journalists to exercise a sense of responsibility are very often code for censorship. Yet unethical journalism can also imperil the press. By Jean-Paul Marthoz

A Sliver of Hope Emerges for a More Independent Press in Turkey

February 12, 2014 1:27 AM EST

The Gezi Park protests force some independent-minded journalists to confront the media’s unwillingness to take on the government. By Nicole Pope

Police fire tear gas at protesters in Ankara earlier this week. (Reuters/Dado Ruvic)

In crackdown on dissent, Turkey detains press, raids outlet

June 20, 2013 5:14 PM EDT

Istanbul, June 20, 2013–Two journalists were detained and one newsroom raided this week as Turkish authorities continued a broad crackdown on dissent, according to news reports. The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on the government to halt its obstruction of journalists seeking to cover the protests that have swept the nation.

Journalists were attacked, detained, and obstructed while reporting on clashes between police and protesters on Sunday. (Reuters/Serkan Senturk)

Journalists detained, beaten, obstructed in Istanbul

June 17, 2013 5:15 PM EDT

Istanbul, June 17, 2013–Anti-press violence intensified in Istanbul on Sunday as police aggressively sought to obstruct reporters covering demonstrations against the government, according to news reports and CPJ interviews. The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on authorities to halt their harassment of the press.

Turkey fines TV stations for protest coverage

June 14, 2013 1:33 PM EDT

Istanbul, June 14, 2013–The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on the Turkish state media regulator to reverse its decision to penalize four TV stations in connection with their coverage of the demonstrations that have occurred nationwide over the past two weeks.

In revolt, freelancers establish Frontline Freelance Register

June 12, 2013 5:03 PM EDT

Finally, there is an organization for freelancers run by freelancers, and it could not come at a more opportune time. As anyone who has been one knows, being a freelance conflict reporter, in particular, can be tricky business.

Angered by the station's news coverage, protesters in Istanbul destroyed an NTV news van.(CPJ/Özgür Öğret)

For Turkish media, Taksim story reveals flaws, threats

June 7, 2013 3:00 PM EDT

The coverage of the Taksim Square protests will not be remembered as a moment of glory for a number of Turkish mainstream media. While demonstrators were being tear-gassed and beaten by police a week ago, CNN Türk was airing a documentary on penguins and Habertürk had a debate on mental illness.

A TV journalist reports on the protests in Istanbul. Several journalists have been targeted while covering the clashes in the country. (AP/Kostas Tsironis)

Several journalists targeted covering clashes in Turkey

June 6, 2013 4:55 PM EDT

Istanbul, June 6, 2013–Turkish police have targeted journalists photographing law enforcement clashes with protesters in a series of attacks, detentions, and obstructions documented by the Committee to Protect Journalists.

A TV crew films near a vandalized news vehicle in Taksim Square. (Reuters/Stoyan Nenov)

Reports of anti-press attacks amid Turkey protests

June 3, 2013 2:40 PM EDT

Istanbul, June 3, 2013–The press has come under fire from both government officials and protesters amid nationwide demonstrations in Turkey, with instances of attacks, obstruction, detention, and vandalism being reported, according to news accounts and local journalists.