Turkey, ranked 159th in press freedom, reminded the Israeli government of press freedom after Turkish journalists who went to Israel were detained. This is ironic, of course. In Turkey today, more than 30 journalists are imprisoned for their opinions. A large portion of television stations are controlled by the government. Some TV channels are staffed by state-approved individuals. 97% of the media is controlled by the government.
No news is published without the government’s approval. The Presidency of Communications sends newspapers information on how to cover certain stories, and even gives journalists written instructions on what questions to ask President and sole leader Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Journalists, whose entire existence depends on sycophancy and subservience to the government, spend hours every day in their newspaper columns and on TV screens, explaining how successful Erdoğan and his government are.
This is actually the biggest media operation in world history; it seems like there’s a free media, but there isn’t. Erdoğan completely controls the media. In this country, only some eYouTube channels broadcast freely, and even these broadcasters are either in prison or constantly subjected to lawsuits and intimidation tactics.
It’s ironic, but they don’t realize it because they live in a different reality. Turkey is actually one of the last countries in the world that should be talking about press freedom. It’s one of the countries where newspapers are most easily bought.