Media capture strategies in new authoritarian states: the case of Turkey

Abstract

This article focuses on the forced transformation of the mass media as an institution in new authoritarian states. It aims to understand the methods used by theses states to control and manipulate the flux of news through the mass media. Turkey’s media system has been chosen as a case study because the recent political developments in the country offer worrisome und devastating examples. This article aims to answer to the following question: How can we classify methods and strategies used by the AKP government to capture the media in Turkey? Why and how do the methods used by the AKP government differ from those applied by previous governments? To answer to these questions, the article draws on media capture as a framework of analysis. It argues that the AKP captured the media by using new strategies which can be divided into three overlapping and interconnected categories: capture by creating its own private media, capture through financial sanctions, and capture by intimidating and criminalizing journalists.

The Role of Legacy Media and Social Media in Increasing Public Engagement About Violence Against Women in Turkey

“…Though complete media freedom never existed in Turkey (Coşkun, 2020), the degree of control by the government today severely limits the media's ability to produce quality journalism. Coşkun (2020) identifies the three-pronged strategy used by the government to subdue that freedom.…”

“…Though complete media freedom never existed in Turkey (Coşkun, 2020), the degree of control by the government today severely limits the media’s ability to produce quality journalism. Coşkun (2020) identifies the three-pronged strategy used by the government to subdue that freedom. First, it has forced opposition owners out through financial sanctions and the effective use of government institutions working in concert to pressure those owners, replacing them with AKP businessmen; second, it has used the regulatory agency, Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK), to fine the outlets they could not fully control; and third, it attacked critical journalists through legal actions and threats of imprisonment (Coşkun, 2020, p. 650).…”

“…Coşkun (2020) identifies the three-pronged strategy used by the government to subdue that freedom. First, it has forced opposition owners out through financial sanctions and the effective use of government institutions working in concert to pressure those owners, replacing them with AKP businessmen; second, it has used the regulatory agency, Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK), to fine the outlets they could not fully control; and third, it attacked critical journalists through legal actions and threats of imprisonment (Coşkun, 2020, p. 650). As a result, a large number of journalists have been jailed, left the profession, or work for small online news sources.…”

“…These issues have only increased the difficulties for journalists during the pandemic, including new forms of censorship and large fines for reporting the actual severity of the Covid-19 crisis in the country (Yezdani, 2021). Some journalists fear returning to the profession, while local news outlets lack resources to train journalists (Coşkun, 2020; O’Donohue et al, 2020). These conditions can lead to the publication of unprofessional and incomplete stories, that is, of poor quality.…”

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“…New authoritarian nations have clearly noticed the forced change of the mass media as an institution (Coşkun 2020).…”