About Renan Akyavas

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So far Renan Akyavas has created 221 blog entries.

I’m a Russian journalist who fled to Turkey. This is my story.

Why and how we left Russia My wife and I started freelancing back in 2017, when the last independent media outlet in the Perm region ceased to be independent. We went into complete obscurity, not really understanding how we would get by. Being a freelance journalist with three children in Russia is tantamount to financial [...]

IPI Turkey Master Class Recap: ”Visual Storytelling for New Formats” with Natalia Guerrero of BBC Reel

On December 7, the International Press Institute (IPI) in collaboration with its Turkey National Committee organized the fourth episode of the Turkey Master Class series which brings international journalists and experts via online and hybrid workshops on digital transition and innovations to journalists in Turkey. Gülsin Harman, a member of IPI Turkey National Committee and [...]

Turkey: Journalist arrested in connection with report on sexual abuse case

The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors, journalists and media executives for press freedom, condemned today the arrest of journalist Sinan Aygül in connection with his reporting on a sexual abuse case in the eastern Turkish city of Bitlis. We call on Turkish authorities to release Aygül without delay. On December 13, [...]

Journalists who cannot buy a newspaper…

By BANU TUNA / Chair of the Journalists’ Union of Turkey (TGS) Istanbul Branch writes about the erosion of journalism in Turkey

Turkey Online Master Class: Visual Storytelling for New Formats (Dec. 7, 2022)

Visual short-form content, particularly short documentaries and video explainers, have proven to be a popular format for independent journalists in Turkey. In this fourth master class for IPI’s Turkey Digital News Accelerator, we host Natalia Guerrero, a senior journalist at BBC Reel. Guerrero will take us on a deep dive into the crucial role of [...]

IPI Webinar (Sept 21): Combating Disinformation: Legal Reforms, Fact-checking, and Journalism

International Press Institute (IPI) Turkey National Committee, in partnership with Columbia Global Centers | Istanbul, is organizing a panel on September 21, 2022, at 5:00 PM (CET) | 6:00 PM (TSİ) focusing on disinformation. Register here Journalism is undergoing major changes. Digitalization of the profession is unleashing innovative journalism practices on the one hand, enabling new forms of communication and [...]

IPI Freedom Dialogues Turkey: Turkish regulator’s broadcast ban on DW Turkish service

Also available on: The 29th episode of IPI’s podcast series IPI Freedom Dialogues: Turkey is out now! Previous episodes of IPI’s Freedom Dialogues: Turkey podcasts are available here. In this episode host Cansu Çamlıbel invites Bülent Mumay, a prominent journalist and Istanbul coordinator of Deutsche Welle’s (DW) Turkish service, to [...]

Turkey Trial Blog: Ankara journalist faces 22 years in prison based on ‘evidence’ from ‘stolen’ memory cards

On June 29, 2022, a representative of the International Press Institute (IPI) attended and monitored the trial of journalist Hayri Demir at the Ankara 15th Heavy Penal Court as part of IPI’s Turkey trial monitoring programme. Alongside IPI, Demir’s trial was also attended by representatives from the Journalists’ Union of Turkey (TGS), Amnesty Turkey, and [...]

Turkey: Twenty journalists including TGS leadership blacklisted by police

The International Press Institute (IPI) today joined the partner organisations of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) in expressing solidarity with the twenty journalists blacklisted by the Turkish General Directorate of Security (EGM) for their writing and joined Turkey’s Journalists Union (TGS) in denouncing an apparent attempt to intimidate independent journalists and trade unionists. On [...]

IPI Turkey Master Class Recap: “Engagement and Trust in Journalism” with Lynn Walsh of Trusting News

On August 22, International Press Institute (IPI) in collaboration with its Turkey National Committee organized the second episode of the Master Class series “Turkey Digital News Accelerator 2022” which brings international experts via online and hybrid workshops on digital transition and innovations to journalists in Turkey. Gülsin Harman, a member of IPI Turkey National Committee and [...]