Loss of press freedoms in Turkey subject of new VOA documentary
Washington, D.C. — Today Voice of America released a new documentary titled, “Turkey: Breaking the Silence.” The film explores the erosion of press freedom in the two decades under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s rule. Under Erdoğan’s administration, Turkey became a top jailer of journalists in which independent media outlets are targets and government censorship is on the rise.
VOA Executive Producer Beth Mendelson worked in Washington, D.C., directing a team on the ground in Turkey that reported from Istanbul and the countryside, profiling citizens, journalists, and activists whose stories help explain the forces driving media repression. The film reveals how deep divisions in Turkish society and politics, combined with autocratic power, have evolved to quash critical news coverage and stifle free speech.
“Turkey’s story is a lesson in the fragility of democracy,” says Acting VOA Director Yolanda Lopez. “This case study demonstrates the importance and power of a free and independent media in preserving democratic freedoms around the world – a warning for nations now struggling with authoritarianism.”
The film and three accompanying profiles initially will be translated into seven Central and South Asia languages, with additional languages expected in the near future.
About VOA
Voice of America reaches a global weekly audience of more than 354 million people in 49 languages. VOA programs are delivered on satellite, cable, shortwave, FM, medium wave, streaming audio and video and more than 2,350 media outlets worldwide. It is funded by the U.S. Congress through USAGM.
Find out more
Contact Bridget Serchak
Director of Public Relations, Office of Public Relations
- publicrelations@voanews.com
- (202) 203-4959