How crisis with US dealt fresh blow to Turkish press
The depreciation of the Turkish lira, fueled by the crisis between Ankara and Washington, has raised the cost of imported paper enormously, pushing already-struggling publications to the brink of collapse.
The crisis between Turkey and the United States has dealt an unexpected economic blow to the Turkish press, threatening especially the handful of newspapers that remain critical of the government and are already struggling to survive.
Bilateral tensions over Turkey’s detention of an American pastor climaxed in late July, resulting in unprecedented US sanctions on Ankara. The row fueled the slump of the embattled Turkish lira, aggravating financial woes in many sectors hit by the skyrocketing cost of imported materials.
The press, which relies heavily on imported paper, is among the worst-hit sectors. Some newspapers have hiked their prices, while others have had to take publishing breaks or discontinue supplements. Book publishers are in similar turmoil.
