M4D Coordinator Kanlı: “We have now created sub-grants while benefiting from projects”

Yusuf Kanlı, The Vice President of the Journalists’ Association and the Coordinator of M4D project which was implemented by the Journalists’ Association in Ankara with the support of the EU, said that they provide the opportunities of Technical Support Tool for Websites, Empowerment Support Tool for Freelance Journalists, Equipment Borrowing Support and periodic Support Tool for Young Journalists and Press House Support Tool within the scope of the project. Kanlı noted that as civil society they had previously benefited from projects, and now they have also created sub-grants while benefiting from them.

The Media4Democracy (M4D) Annual Media Conference was held in Ankara as part of the Democracy for Media / Media for Democracy Project carried out by the Journalists’ Association with the support of the European Union (EU). Making the opening speech of the conference, the President of the Journalists’ Association Nazmi Bilgin criticized the 90 percent of newspapers and televisions being centralized in one hand by defining the whole picture in which the media is in as “embarrassing”. Bilgin said: “We have always criticized the government, yet we have overlooked what needs to be criticized the most. We werw noe able to fight organized. The bosses have created anti-union pressure and unfortunately they succeeded. ”

“The EU Also Supports Press Freedom Politically”

After Bilgin, the Head of the EU Delegation to Turkey Christian Berger took the floor. Stating the importance of the ‘Media for Democracy, Democracy for Media’ project, Berger stated that the EU supports press freedom not only financially but also politically.

Press Honor Award Was Presented to Altan Öymen for the First Time

Later on, the President of the Journalists’ Association Nazmi Bilgin presented the Press Honorary Award which is symbolized by a figurine carrying the peace dove on top, breaking the chains that limit freedom with its pen to the former president of the Association Altan Öymen. Altan Öymen, whose award was presented, said: “Unfortunately, what is happening in the field of media in our country conflicts with a democratic country. Press in Turkey will be free again and meetings such as this will contribute to it.” 

“Freedom is a Must for All Professions”

In the first conference part of the program, actress Elvin Beşikçioğlu, who gave a speech titled “Art and Freedom”, said that freedom is inevitable for all professions. Beşikçioğlu said:

“We cannot separate freedom from life and life itself is an art.” 

Kanlı: “121 Journalists Are Behind Bars”

Afterwards, M4D Project Director Yusuf Kanlı who presented the ‘Freedom of Press and Expression Report’, stated that journalists behind the bars are the result of the problematic structure in the journalism profession. Kanlı shared the information that by the end of 2019, 121 journalists are currently behind bars in Turkey.

The Supports Were Explained

After Kanlı’s speech, M4D Project Officer Igor Chelov gave information about the project supports and the supports to be opened in 2020. M4D Financial Support Specialist Merve Kartal shared the annual data of the project supports and explained them.

Journalists supported by the M4D Project, İrfan Uçar, Ünsal Ünlü and Tülin Daloğlu made a presentation about their work under the title of “Good Practices Panel Discussion”. At the conference, the book titled “Şimdi Onlar Manşet” which is published by the Journalists’ Association that includes interviews by Taner Dedeoğlu was introduced.

In the second part of the conference, some participants attended the Public Broadcasting panel discussion, and some attended the Local Media and Press Advertisement Institution (BİK) panel.

M4D Subsidizes With 4 Programs

Answering the questions of Civil Pages at the end of the conference, Journalists’ Association Vice President and M4D Project Coordinator Yusuf Kanlı stated that their programs have started on January 2, 2019 and will end on April 1, 2022. Stating that the project is a European Union program aiming to strengthen both the corporate and personal journalism structure of unemployed journalists, he said: “The program which will last for 40 months includes Website Support, Supporting Freelance Journalists, Supporting Young Journalists and Press House Supports. 33 people have benefited from the website Support so far. 33 unemployed journalists now have a website and they now do their work here. It is aimed to give this support to 50 people. In the Supporting Freelance Journalists tool, a royalty fee is paid for the articles published in the 24 Hour Newspaper. The professional work of unemployed and freelance journalists is supported as well, and the Support for Young Journalists provides support from 500 Euros to 1500 Euros, for equipment purchases and course programs, and the last support program is the Press House. A support of 15 thousand Euros is granted. 32 out of 53 applications were found appropriate. Currently, 31 projects are continuing.” 

“We Have Created Sub-Grant Programs”

Referring to the importance of non-governmental organizations mediating the supports, Kanlı said: “These supports happen for the first time in Turkey. We made sub-grant programs. In the past, we were getting support and we were benefiting, but now besides getting support, we are giving these supports to different people and non-governmental organizations through sub-grants. It is an important event for a non-governmental organization to do this.”