Press Council issues 'Burcu Köksal' warning to Fatih Portakal: 'I did it that day, I'll do it again'

Sözcü TV main news anchor Fatih Portakal was investigated by the Press Council following a complaint regarding his remarks during the March 7, 2024, main news bulletin. While reporting on CHP Afyonkarahisar Mayor Burcu Köksal's statement, "My door will be open to all parties except the DEM Party," Portakal said, "I think she did this consciously to harm her party. I also think the instruction came from the old team in some way. It is not possible for me to prove this."

"I DID IT THAT DAY, I'LL DO IT AGAIN"

Fatih Portakal stated the following in his defense:

"Hello, I am Fatih Portakal. I would like to briefly share my thoughts regarding the complaint filed against me with you and the Press Council. A citizen named Atakan Sönmez filed a complaint regarding my remarks about the former CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu in recent days, stating that I was 'expressing a personal opinion.' To avoid wasting your time and mine, I can elaborate briefly. First of all, I am in my 28th year in the profession. I am someone who believes I am experienced in this regard, who thinks I know what is right and what is wrong, and what should and should not be said. Furthermore, every journalist has intelligence; anyone who calls themselves a journalist has a source or sources of information. They also have the freedom to disclose or not disclose the source of the information. If we go through this concrete event; I talk to people, I get information from people. This is sometimes the AKP, sometimes the YRP, sometimes the DEM, and in this news, it was from within the Republican People's Party. In fact, I am talking about those around Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu in the Republican People's Party. Naturally, of course, I will not reveal the name of my source or sources. If I disclose them, would people trust me? And when I said 'I cannot prove it, I cannot verify it...' in that commentary, this is what I meant. That is, if I were to ask Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, Kemal Bey would have said 'no, there is no such thing' anyway. If I were to give a name or names, a situation would arise that would not be compatible with my character, journalistic principles, and professional ethics. It means I have talked to some people about some things, conditions such as 'off the record' were imposed by the other side, and I filtered it through my own reasoning and shared it. I did it that day, I'll do it again. I reject Mr. Atakan's allegations. This is what I did, and I believe to the end that I practiced journalism. Thank you. I offer my respects..."

DECISION TO ISSUE A WARNING

As a result of the vote, the Press Council High Board determined by majority vote (12 votes to 1) that Fatih Portakal violated the Press Professional Principles, specifically Article 4, which states, "Expressions that humiliate, degrade, or constitute slander against individuals and organizations beyond the limits of criticism cannot be included," and Article 6, which states, "News that can be investigated within the means of journalism cannot be published without investigation or without being sure of its accuracy." The Council decided by majority vote to "issue a warning" to the complained party, Fatih Portakal, for violating Articles 4 and 6 of the Press Professional Principles.