Turkey: The media sub-plot

We examine how news outlets have become part of the story in the recent scandal involving Erdogan’s government.



In recent weeks, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government has been caught up in a corruption scandal. And the media - more than just reporting the story - has become an interesting sub-plot in it.

Turkey has a poor record on media freedom, not helped by the number of conglomerates that own media outlets which tend not to criticise the government.

But the scandal has prompted a change in direction; the media criticism of Erdogan has been sharp, and the instruments the government is coming back at them with are blunt.

Turkey's government has made allegations that the critical media are part of a conspiracy involving foreign powers who want a new government in Ankara. And all of this is unfolding against the backdrop of upcoming elections, in which the media - and their ability to cover the vote - will be a crucial part of the democratic process.