World Press Freedom DayPuts Turkey in Spotlight

The US Department of State's annual human rights report refers to the limitations on freedom of the press in Turkey, writes Yavuz Baydar. 

Yavuz Baydar
Yavuz Baydar
May 3, 2013
Journalists and activists participate in a rally calling for press freedom in central Ankara March 19, 2011. The recent arrest and jailing of some 10 journalists as part of investigations into Ergenekon, an ultra-nationalist, secularist network opposed to Prime Minister's Tayyip Erdogan's rule, has a triggered expressions of concern from the European Union, the U.S. and human rights groups about Ankara's commitment to media freedom and democratic principles. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY - Tags: CIVIL UNREST
Journalists and activists participate in a rally calling for press freedom in central Ankara, March 19, 2011. — REUTERS/Umit Bektas

World Press Freedom Day, as always on May 3, gives journalists worldwide an occasion to celebrate their professional honor, but also an opportunity to lament the erosion the media suffers in both independence and freedom as much as the physical, punitive and economic threats that a clear majority of them have to operate under.

This year’s slogan, promoted by the United Nations, "Safe to Speak: Securing Freedom of Expression in All Media," is a fitting one, covering most of issues of concern.

And whenever press freedom is put in a broad context, such as May 3, the global spotlight quickly turns to Turkey and its tormented media sector and professionals.

Why?

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