Media Oscars awarded in a country where the media is not free

Istanbul hosted a very extraordinary awards ceremony the other evening; journalists from various countries around the world received the "Fetisov Journalism Awards," which amount to millions in monetary value, in Istanbul.

First, let me explain what the "Fetisov Awards" are, which I, as a journalist, had also heard of for the first time. The Fetisov Awards have been distributed for 5 years; to date, 1500 journalists from 137 countries have applied. They are given in four categories, and the first-place winners receive 100 thousand Swiss Francs, second-place winners 20 thousand Swiss Francs, and third-place winners 10 thousand Swiss Francs in prize money. (100 thousand Francs is approximately 3.5 million Turkish Lira.)

It is natural that we in Turkey do not know about such an award, because unfortunately, Turkey has fallen to the lowest ranks on the world list for Press Freedom; what kind of news could you write that would make it possible to receive such awards?

There were 400 entries from 96 countries for this year's Fetisov Awards. These reports were reviewed by juries consisting of international journalists, and the finalists were determined. The top three among these finalists were announced at the ceremony held the other night. The ceremony was like the Oscars; envelopes were opened, and journalists from all over the world received their awards.

So, who is this Fetisov, who created such an international award with high monetary value, similar to the Nobel Prize?

That is also interesting; Gleb Fetisov is a Russian businessman, that is, an oligarch. He is known as an entrepreneur, media producer, scientist, and philanthropist. The 57-year-old businessman, who ranked 1818th on Forbes' 2019 Billionaires list, earned his fortune from asset investments. Gleb Fetisov, who became a citizen of the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus in 2022, lives in Limassol and has three children. If a Russian businessman is distributing an international award for media freedom, it is not difficult to predict that he is against Putin, because the thing people like Putin hate most is a free press; it seems Mr. Fetisov is, in a way, challenging the Russian leader with these awards. Given that he was a member of the Federation Council, the upper house of the Russian Parliament, until 2009, it can be understood that he was on Putin's side up to a point, but later fell out with him.

Let's come to the subject of why the Fetisov Award ceremony was held in Turkey.

The organization of this award is carried out by British journalist Aiden White, who is the founder of an organization called the 'Ethical Journalism Network' (EJN) and has led many media meetings in Turkey. Journalist Mustafa Kuleli is on the Turkey side of the Ethical Journalism Network, and Kuleli suggested that the award ceremony be held in Turkey, which was accepted.

About 30 foreign journalists were invited to Istanbul for the award ceremony; guests were hosted at the CVK Park Bosphorus Hotel in Taksim, where the award ceremony and gala dinner were also held. Expenses were not spared at the gala dinner, to the extent that champagne was served to all guests.

AND A SURPRISE

Journalists from various countries won the awards. For example, in the Investigative Journalism category, American journalist Hannah Dreier won for her investigation into the employment of refugee children under harsh conditions.

In the category of contribution to environmentalism, three journalists from Germany received awards. One of the winners, Greta Taubert, while explaining that they work specifically on plastic waste, said, "We must stop the use of plastic. Do not believe those who say that plastic waste disappears or is ineffective, because plastic waste never disappears; it is a major threat as long as you do not stop its production."

In the category of supporting Human Rights, another American journalist, Anna Catherina Brigida, received the award. She had prepared a report working in Honduras, explaining how high technology prevents drug sales.

In the category of journalists contributing to peace, Syrian journalist Hadeel Arja, who lives in Istanbul, won the award. Hadeel Arja reported on the working conditions of adolescents living in refugee camps in Northern Syria, and the report was published on a website called 'Tiny Hand.' Of course, in Turkey, as the Turkish media, we neither hear about the work of Syrian journalists nor are we aware of websites like Tiny Hand.

As far as I understand, the Turkish media did not show much interest in the award ceremony. At the ceremony, in addition to President Pınar Türenç, Murat Önok, and Doğan Satmış representing the Press Council, there were Bianet founder Nadire Mater, Emre Kızılkaya from the International Press Institute, journalists Kadri Gürsel and Mustafa Kuleli; Erol Önderoğlu could not attend.

Everything aside, ensuring that journalists who have been successful in the international arena come to Turkey is an admirable event.

Turkey does not deserve the situation it is in, both economically, in terms of media freedom, and in terms of the regression in democracy.

However, unfortunately, it is not very possible to stop this trend.

Historian Bernard Lewis wrote in his book "The Emergence of Modern Turkey" that the following method was applied in Islamic countries ruled by caliphs for centuries:

"In these countries, there is a belief: if the caliph is good, you thank God; if the caliph is not good, you show patience."

Although there is no caliph in Turkey, the tradition is the same.