The media and media policy

This chapter attempts to capture conflicting trends in the media in contemporary Turkey. In the last five years pluralism in the media was challenged by a number of political events and economic pressures. Since 2014 international press freedom indicators have vacillated between partly free and not free. The terrorist attacks and a failed coup attempt between July 2015 and 31 December 2016 had major consequences for journalists, and many media organisations were shut down. The media continues to be concentrated in the hands of few companies. However, increasing internet penetration has aided the growth of online journalism, helping non-mainstream media find alternative venues of news production, distribution, and consumption.