Turkish state media ignores mass protests as opposition fights for coverage

Department of Research, Studies and International News 26-03-2025

As the streets of Istanbul echoed with the sounds of clanging pots and pans, an emblematic act of defiance against the government, viewers of Turkey’s pro-government television networks saw an entirely different picture. Instead of images of mass protests sparked by the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, state-run broadcasters presented a carefully curated narrative: President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan addressing an opulent gathering, boasting about his administration’s achievements and promising economic stability.

This stark contrast highlights the widening gap in Turkey’s media landscape, where independent and opposition-leaning outlets struggle to provide coverage in the face of an overwhelmingly government-controlled press. While Erdoğan’s government has consolidated control over approximately 85% of the country’s media, the few remaining opposition-aligned newspapers and TV channels have been left to shoulder the responsibility of reporting on the protests and political unrest.

For two decades, Erdoğan has fostered an increasingly polarized and restricted media environment. Critics argue that pro-government networks function more as propaganda tools than as journalistic institutions. Erol Önderoğlu of Reporters Without Borders describes the situation as a “highly toxic” media climate, where pluralism has been systematically dismantled.

This was evident in how the protests were covered. Channels like NTV briefly acknowledged the unrest, reporting on mass arrests in line with government statements but failing to show any footage or interview demonstrators. Instead, mainstream coverage painted protesters as threats to national stability. According to Murat Somer, a political scientist at Istanbul’s Özyeğin University, pro-government media framed demonstrators as “vandals” and “aggressive troublemakers” while simultaneously portraying them as weak and unable to accept that İmamoğlu had committed crimes.

Censorship and Media Crackdown

The Turkish government’s strategy goes beyond biased reporting; it actively suppresses independent coverage of the protests. The country’s media watchdog, the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK), banned live broadcasts of the demonstrations, a decision that sparked internal dissent within the organization. İlhan Taşcı, an RTÜK official from the opposition, revealed that major television networks were threatened with license revocations if they aired live footage. In response, RTÜK’s president, Ebubekir Şahin, dismissed concerns, claiming, “There is no need for disinformation. The state and its institutions will do what is necessary.”

Live coverage would directly contradict the government’s narrative, Somer argues. “If people saw the reality, thousands of peaceful protesters singing and marching, it would dismantle the image that the government is trying to build.” He describes the state’s refusal to show the protests as “a deliberate act of disinformation.”

Opposition Pushes Back

In response to media suppression, opposition leader Özgür Özel and his Republican People’s Party (CHP) have called for a boycott of businesses that they claim financially support the government’s media apparatus. Their list includes major Turkish brands such as a popular coffee chain, the chocolate company Ülker, and the state broadcaster. Additionally, Özel has demanded that İmamoğlu’s trial be televised, arguing that transparency is essential to counter the state’s narrative.

The government’s crackdown on press freedom has intensified since the protests began. Ten photojournalists were detained in dawn raids, with several facing prosecution and potential jail time. The arrests appear to be a direct attempt to prevent powerful images of the protests, particularly those depicting police brutality, from reaching both domestic and international audiences.

The Battle for Journalism in Turkey

Despite the growing repression, independent journalists remain committed to reporting the truth. Media expert Emre Kızılkaya, from the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy at Harvard Kennedy School, emphasizes the significance of visual documentation. “We’ve seen remarkable images in the international media, photos that show Turkey’s democracy still resisting, with thousands of people in the streets,” he explains. However, he believes the Turkish government is alarmed by the impact these images could have.

With most Turkish citizens still relying on television for news, the government’s dominance over broadcasting ensures that independent outlets face relentless financial and legal pressure. Channels critical of the government have been hit with hefty fines, live broadcast bans, and arrests of key journalists. The few remaining opposition-aligned stations find themselves fighting to stay afloat, as their ability to cover events on the ground becomes increasingly restricted.

Kızılkaya warns that the suppression of media coverage is not just about controlling the narrative, it threatens the very future of journalism in Turkey. “Many journalists feel they are fighting their last battle. These protests are not only about politics but about the right to inform the public.”

The Turkish public now faces two vastly different portrayals of reality. While independent outlets and international media highlight large-scale, peaceful demonstrations, government-controlled channels depict an alternative version of events, casting the protesters as dangerous agitators. This growing information divide underscores the broader political polarization in Turkey, where citizens are increasingly consuming news that aligns with their pre-existing views.

As the protests continue, the battle over information remains a key front in Turkey’s political struggle. Whether the opposition’s push for transparency can break through Erdoğan’s tightly controlled media landscape remains uncertain. However, for many, the growing unrest signifies a deepening resistance to the government’s grip on power, one that extends beyond the streets and into the very fabric of the nation’s media.