Gazete Duvar shuts down: Economic crisis in the media sector deepens

Economic difficulties in the media sector continue to negatively affect press organizations and their employees. Most recently, it was learned that Gazete Duvar has ceased its operations.

On the other hand, KRT television is also facing financial difficulties. As of March, the channel has been unable to pay employee salaries and meal card payments. While no official statement has been made by the management regarding the issue, employees state that they are experiencing uncertainty regarding payments.

Similarly, it was reported that YENİDURUM, which was established in recent months by Genç Parti Deputy Chairman Erhan Mataracı, has also not paid its employees' March salaries. While no statement has yet come from the institution's officials, there is no information as to why the payments were not made.

GAZETE DUVAR'S STATEMENT

The online news site Gazete Duvar, founded in 2016, has decided to cease its publishing activities. Among the reasons behind the decision were the failure to reach an agreement in collective bargaining negotiations with the Journalists Union of Turkey and Google's practices that negatively affect the accessibility of news sites.

According to the statement, Google's algorithm updates significantly reduced the visibility of independent media organizations on Google News and Discover platforms. Information was shared that this situation led to a serious decline in Gazete Duvar's reader traffic and revenues. Gazete Duvar editor Ökkeş Taşkın stated that independent media organizations, which must meet certain click and readership rates to receive advertisements from the Press Advertising Agency (BİK), were negatively affected by these changes.

Taşkın announced that the decision had been communicated to the employees with a message, using the following expressions:

''It has just been communicated to me and my colleagues that Gazete Duvar is being shut down. Continuing with journalism...''