Turkish journalism organizations hold council and defend press integrity

The Türkiye Gazeteciler Federasyonu (TGF) Presidents' Council recently convened in Balıkesir, hosted by the Balıkesir Gazeteciler ve Yazarlar Cemiyeti (BGYC). The meeting, held from August 14-16, brought together journalists from various regions, including Anatolia, Thrace, Northern Cyprus, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan, to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the BGYC.

Separately, Süleyman Akbulut, President of the Muğla Gazeteciler Cemiyeti (MGC), issued a written statement defending local journalists against accusations stemming from political disputes in Bodrum. Akbulut criticized attempts to use the press as a scapegoat for internal political conflicts, stating that labeling journalists as ‘unprincipled’ or ‘low quality’ based on political affiliations is unacceptable and constitutes an attempt to manage perception rather than address institutional crises.