- BIST10012,151-0.94%
- USD49.220.00%
- EUR55.21+0.28%
- GOLD4,195.90+0.13%
- INTEREST37.00%-1.00
- BITCOIN82,230-1.72%
- October 13, 202618°
- BIST10012,151-0.94%
- USD49.220.00%
- EUR55.21+0.28%
- GOLD4,195.90+0.13%
- INTEREST37.00%-1.00
- BITCOIN82,230-1.72%
- October 13, 202618°
Press Workers Association officially established, Tolga Özlü appointed president
Experienced figures in the media sector have established the Press Workers Association to defend the principles of the profession and protect the rights of press workers. Tolga Özlü was elected as the association's president.
Amid the painful period the media sector is going through, a strong step has been taken to defend the honor and principles of the profession and the rights of press workers. Experienced figures from the sector have joined forces and officially established the Press Workers Association.
Press workers who toil day and night in various media groups, newspapers, television channels and digital platforms have united as one to restore the profession's tarnished reputation, prevent loss of rights and fight the corruption in the sector collectively.
Experienced Figures Take Responsibility
The association's management is composed of seasoned professionals who come from within the profession and know the sector and its problems inside out. Tolga Özlü has taken the chair as President of the Press Workers Association, while Emin Pazarcı, a powerful pen of the Turkish press, has assumed the roles of Vice President and Association Spokesperson.
The association's financial affairs have been entrusted to Bekir Gündoğan (Treasurer), and its administrative coordination and secretariat to Beyazıt Cebeci (Secretary).
A Shocking Manifesto from President Tolga Özlü: 'We Will Protect the Honor of News!'
Announcing the association's founding with a manifesto of historic value, Press Workers Association President Tolga Özlü shattered media conventions with his 'Founding Declaration'.
In a statement that firmly asserts journalism is not a commercial activity and press members are not 'merchants', Özlü said: 'Every morning the sun rises anew. Each new day is a fresh beginning. The duty of press members is to convey the developments each new day brings to the public, to inform them about events. Objectively and without distortion! News is sacred.
A journalist must approach news with the precision of a surgeon. Like a doctor in surgery, they have no luxury of making mistakes. They must show the same sensitivity. We set out with this understanding and principle. We promise to protect the honor of news, which has been severely damaged lately. Commentary, however, is free.
A journalist, writer or television commentator should be able to interpret events and share their opinions freely, without any pressure. The only pressure on them should be Press Ethics and Professional Principles of Journalism. If this balance can be maintained, Press Freedom, people's right to receive information and social peace can be achieved. We are clear and determined on this matter.'
Clear Stance Against Pollution and Corruption
President Tolga Özlü emphasized the war they have launched against the wrong and disturbing examples that have recently shaken the media world, and challenged any structure that exploits the profession for its own interests with these words: 'We are professionals who believe that press organizations are not commercial enterprises and press members are not merchants.
Like everyone else, we are extremely disturbed by some wrong, disturbing and saddening bad examples that have emerged recently. We are demonstrating a will to fight these and the pollution. Under no circumstances and no matter who does it, we are absolutely against the profession being damaged in any way. Our name is the Press Workers Association.
Naturally, our greatest area of struggle will be protecting the rights and law of press workers. We will be uncompromising on this and will wage every necessary fight. We aim to revive the spirit of solidarity that existed years ago but has gradually been abandoned. We will be the voice not of this or that person, but of us, the press workers. We will defend not this or that, but right, law and truth.
Of course, we will also act with respect for the culture and values this society has built over centuries. We set out with this purpose and determination... Our goal is to protect the dignity of the press profession, increase its reliability, and protect and support press workers against all kinds of injustice. We will have important projects and steps in this direction. May God not put us to shame.'
Veteran Names Come Together
The Press Workers Association has added strength to its power with both its dynamic management team and its Honorary Board, which brings together symbolic figures of the Turkish media. Here are those names:
BOARD OF DIRECTORS (FULL): Tolga Özlü (President), Emin Pazarcı (Vice President and Spokesperson), Hasan Öymez, Zekeriya Say, Fatih Selek, Beyazıt Cebeci (Secretary), Bekir Gündoğan (Treasurer).
BOARD OF DIRECTORS (ALTERNATE): Yakup Bulut, Osman Bekar, Talat Doğmuş, Muhammed Sena Volkan, Fırat Yurdakul, Harun Urgancı, Muhammed Kutlu.
AUDIT BOARD (FULL/ALTERNATE): Fazlı Şahan, Yavuz Selim Ayaz, Aykut Gürel / Murat Yılmaz, Ayhan Babayiğit, Zeynel Kahtavi Boğan.
HONORARY BOARD (Veterans of the Profession): Cengiz Er, Hakkı Öcal, Melik Yiğitel, Erdal Güven, Serdar Demirhan, Zihni Oğuz Akın, Bahtiyar Ersoy, Erkan Tan, Ardan Zentürk.
The Press Workers Association, which set out to heal the problems that have accumulated in the press for years, revive the spirit of solidarity and protect the 'honor of news', has clearly signaled with this first step that it will shake up the media.
The association, which has generated great excitement in the sector, is already eagerly awaited for the projects it will announce in the coming days.
Stay Updated with The Turkiye Times
Subscribe to be informed about special news, developments and announcements. We will keep you informed.
By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy
