RTÜK Chair Şahin warns opposition channels: 'It does no one any good' - 'Do not instill pessimism'

In a statement on his social media account, Şahin said that examinations conducted by RTÜK monitoring experts revealed that main news bulletins contained a significant amount of violent content and that news anchors were making biased, intentional comments far from impartiality.

Ebubekir Şahin, in his statement announcing that the maximum level of sanctions would be applied to broadcasting organizations that negatively affect the physical and mental development of youth and children during general viewing hours, stated the following:

Important Announcement to the Public and Our Broadcasters!                                                                                                                    

Examinations conducted by RTÜK monitoring experts have determined that main news bulletins contain a significant amount of violent content and that news anchors are making biased, intentional comments far from impartiality. 

Beyond the violent images and sounds in news bulletins, it is observed that the news broadcast creates a perception that there are no “positive events” in our country, and that our citizens are being pushed into pessimism and loneliness.

Our broadcasting organizations have editorial independence in their news content. However, this independence requires working in a way that does not harm the public interest, social peace, and the environment of trust in society. 

While successful work is evident in many fields in our country, including energy, the defense industry, domestic and national technology, art, culture, and sports, the “we are doomed,” “we are finished,” and “we are ruined” style of journalism that instills pessimism does no one any good. 

Another important issue is that main news anchors make intentional comments and analyses that include their own political views regarding events. Comments and analyses made far from impartiality, as if by a representative of a political party, do not align with journalistic ethical principles and cause great harm to the journalism profession. 

 Our Law No. 6112 is very clear, and every broadcasting organization is obliged to comply with the rules specified in this law. In accordance with the authority granted to us by the law, the maximum level of sanctions will be applied to our broadcasting organizations that negatively affect the physical and mental development of our youth and children during general viewing hours, that spread, encourage, or normalize violence, that praise crime and criminals, and that disregard the principle of impartiality.

Respectfully announced to the public.

Kamuoyuna ve Yayıncılarımıza Önemli Duyuru!

RTÜK izleme uzmanları tarafından yapılan incelemelerde, ana haber bültenlerinde çok sayıda şiddet içeriğine yer…

— Ebubekir Şahin (@ebekirsahin) February 8, 2025

STATEMENT MET WITH BACKLASH

This statement by Şahin, in which he effectively declared that he does not approve of the broadcasting policies of opposition channels and that they are prepared to impose penalties on this matter, was met with backlash. Comments were made that such a statement could lead to much more dire consequences in a climate where journalists are being arrested.

News Source: 12punto