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GOV'T TO LEND FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO MINORITY NEWSPAPERS
EMÄ°NE DOLMAC
Today's Zaman
Aug 24, 2011
Turkey
Newspapers run by minority groups in Turkey that have been struggling
with finances will be receiving immediate financial support from
the government.
The Press Bulletin Authority (BÄ°K) has pledged TL 250,000 from
a special fund to be given to minority newspapers as a temporary
solution to help them stay afloat before a new amendment is made to
Decision No. 67 of the BÄ°K General Council, which currently prohibits
such newspapers from publishing official advertisements.
A new proposal floated during an official meeting of the executive
board of BÄ°K on Aug. 16 suggests supporting newspapers published by
Greek, Armenian and Jewish minorities in Turkey by allowing them to
publish official advertisements. The proposal will be put into force
after amendments are made to BÄ°K's Decision 67.
Newspapers that have been published by Greek, Armenian and Jewish
communities for at least 10 years in their own languages or in Turkish
will be able to benefit from the government assistance. There are
six newspapers in Turkey that meet these criteria -- Apoyevmatini,
Ä°ho, Agos, Å~^alom, Jamanak and Nor Marmara.
The proposal comes after Mehmet Atalay, the general director of
BÄ°K, held a meeting on July 26 with representatives and editors
of newspapers published by minority groups to discuss the ongoing
problems faced by minority publications and to come up with a solution.
Following the meeting Atalay set to work on a new regulation concerning
the legal requirements that must be met by minority newspapers before
they are eligible for assistance from BÄ°K, an autonomous organization
that distributes official advertisements to national and local press
institutions. Minority publications, currently, are not allowed to
publish official advertisements due to an existing regulation on
press advertising.
Most minority newspapers published in Turkey have been at a
disadvantage in terms of state support and have not been represented
as fully as other newspapers by journalists' organizations.
Recently, the editor-in-chief of Apoyevmatini announced that he would
have to shut down the newspaper because of financial problems. The
daily has been in publication since 1925 and currently has a
circulation of 600.
When news of its potential closure started circulating in the media,
campaigns were launched by university students to save the newspaper.
BÄ°K got involved in the situation last month to give support to
minority newspapers.
EMÄ°NE DOLMAC
Today's Zaman
Aug 24, 2011
Turkey
Newspapers run by minority groups in Turkey that have been struggling
with finances will be receiving immediate financial support from
the government.
The Press Bulletin Authority (BÄ°K) has pledged TL 250,000 from
a special fund to be given to minority newspapers as a temporary
solution to help them stay afloat before a new amendment is made to
Decision No. 67 of the BÄ°K General Council, which currently prohibits
such newspapers from publishing official advertisements.
A new proposal floated during an official meeting of the executive
board of BÄ°K on Aug. 16 suggests supporting newspapers published by
Greek, Armenian and Jewish minorities in Turkey by allowing them to
publish official advertisements. The proposal will be put into force
after amendments are made to BÄ°K's Decision 67.
Newspapers that have been published by Greek, Armenian and Jewish
communities for at least 10 years in their own languages or in Turkish
will be able to benefit from the government assistance. There are
six newspapers in Turkey that meet these criteria -- Apoyevmatini,
Ä°ho, Agos, Å~^alom, Jamanak and Nor Marmara.
The proposal comes after Mehmet Atalay, the general director of
BÄ°K, held a meeting on July 26 with representatives and editors
of newspapers published by minority groups to discuss the ongoing
problems faced by minority publications and to come up with a solution.
Following the meeting Atalay set to work on a new regulation concerning
the legal requirements that must be met by minority newspapers before
they are eligible for assistance from BÄ°K, an autonomous organization
that distributes official advertisements to national and local press
institutions. Minority publications, currently, are not allowed to
publish official advertisements due to an existing regulation on
press advertising.
Most minority newspapers published in Turkey have been at a
disadvantage in terms of state support and have not been represented
as fully as other newspapers by journalists' organizations.
Recently, the editor-in-chief of Apoyevmatini announced that he would
have to shut down the newspaper because of financial problems. The
daily has been in publication since 1925 and currently has a
circulation of 600.
When news of its potential closure started circulating in the media,
campaigns were launched by university students to save the newspaper.
BÄ°K got involved in the situation last month to give support to
minority newspapers.