TV watchdog fines two broadcasters for slander against Aydın Doğan

Meltem Özgenç - ANKARA

DHA Photo

Turkey’s TV and radio watchdog has fined three private broadcasters for publishing “news contrary to the facts” and for slander against Aydın Doğan, the founder and honorary chairman of Doğan Holding, which owns daily Hürriyet.

The Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) fined ATV’s “Kahvaltı Haberleri” presented by Melih Altınok on the principles of impartiality, facticity and accuracy.

The TV watchdog also fined A Haber’s “Memleket Meselesi” and “Ajans Gün İçi” programs, along with TV 24’s “Bıçak Sırtı” program for acting against principles of human dignity and the right to privacy, stating broadcasts must not be degrading, insulting or contain elements of defamation.

RTÜK was known as one of the strongholds of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) during the AKP’s 13 years as a single-party government from 2002 to 2015 due to the majority of RTÜK’S members being selected from the AKP quota. However, RTÜK’s structure changed after no single party could come to power in the June 7 election. The number of non-AKP members in RTÜK --coming from the Republican People’s Party (CHP), the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP)-- currently adds up to more than the members elected from the AKP quota.