About Renan Akyavas

This author has not yet filled in any details.
So far Renan Akyavas has created 223 blog entries.

Turkey: Repeal the “disinformation offence” and overreaching legal amendments

As the Turkish Constitutional Court reviews the constitutionality of the "disinformation offence”, today on 8 November, the International Press Institute (IPI) and Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partner organisations reiterate their call for the annulment of Article 217/A of the Turkish Penal Code and related legal amendments passed in October 2022 that undermine international standards on the [...]

Turkey: International groups condemn arrest of journalist Tolga Şardan

The undersigned media freedom, freedom of expression, human rights and journalists’ organizations strongly condemn the arrest of seasoned journalist Tolga Şardan in Ankara. On the occasion of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists (IDEI), the undersigned groups demand that instead of punishing journalists for informing the public, Turkey’s judiciary should hold [...]

IPI calls on states to take concrete action to end impunity for crimes against the press

Amid spiraling violence and attacks on the press, states must urgently uphold their commitments and obligations to protect the safety of journalists – including in conflict zones – and take concrete action to end impunity for these crimes, the International Press Institute (IPI) said to mark International Day to End Impunity on November 2, 2023. Over [...]

Turkey Trial Blog: Photojournalist’s case launched upon the complaint of the police officers who assaulted him adjourned

IPI monitored the first hearing of the case in which AFP photojournalist Bülent Kılıç, who was tortured and detained by the police while covering the Pride March in Istanbul on June 26, 2021, is facing charges of "resisting public officials to obstruct them from duty" and "publicly insulting a public official". The hearing was held [...]

How can constructive journalism contribute to mitigating media polarization?

This article is part of Turkey Dispatches, a special IPI series on press freedom and the realities of practicing journalism in today’s Turkey, written by those most directly affected: Turkey’s journalists and those who defend them. The moment I truly grasped the concept of democracy was during a training session where [...]

IPI-CGC Masterclass in Journalism: The Art of Pitching

Columbia Global Centers | Istanbul and the International Press Institute (IPI) invite you to join our masterclass for freelance journalists from Turkey. Through this 4-week course the participants will learn the art of pitching their story ideas to international media outlets. The participants will meet leading journalists and editors, get feedback on their ideas and [...]

IPI Freedom Dialogues Turkey: Attempts at silencing journalism through threats and pressure (TR)

The 40th episode of IPI’s podcast series IPI Freedom Dialogues: Turkey is out now! In this episode of IPI Free Dialogues, journalist Cansu Çamlıbel hosted freelance journalist Hale Gönültaş to discuss the transformation of freelance journalism in Turkey, and the threats and pressure Gönültaş faces due to her reporting. Also available on: [...]

Turkey: International groups alarmed by the targeting of journalist Alican Uludağ

The undersigned media freedom, freedom of expression and human rights organizations denounce the inflammatory rhetoric directed at Deutsche Welle (DW) Turkish service reporter Alican Uludağ by Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) officials and call on the Turkish authorities to ensure journalists’ safety. Journalists must be able to freely publish information they obtain on matters of public [...]

Turkey Online Master Class: Community and the Future of Media (October 24, 2023)

Page views and going viral are no longer a viable business strategy for journalism. Andrew Losowsky will share his approach to community building for newsrooms and how anyone can get started, no matter how small their resources are for audience engagement. Hosted by Istanbul-based journalist Gülsin Harman. English to Turkish translation will be provided. REGISTER HERE Who [...]

International mission statement: Turkey’s press freedom crisis deepens amid earthquake and national elections

Turkey’s press freedom crisis has deepened further in the last year. Journalists face steep harassment and intimidation for their work, including arbitrary imprisonment and prosecution. Those responsible for attacks and threats against the press enjoy alarming levels of impunity.  This year's parliamentary and presidential elections have brought no relief for press freedom. On the contrary, [...]