Turkish journalist, academic Doğan Tılıç receives press freedom award in Spain

MALAGA

Journalist, academic and columnist Professor L. Doğan Tılıç received Malaga University’s UNESCO Chair 7th International Press Freedom Award on Dec. 1.

After he was nominated by the chair for the annual prize, a jury consisting of Spain’s Communication Department Deans (ATIC) selected Tılıç as the winner, saying he had shown “commitment to democratic values during the hard times that journalism and the media are going through in his country.” It also praised his “contributions to the culture of peace and press freedom throughout his career.”

The chair highlighted that Tılıç had carried out his occupational work hand-in-hand with his academic work over the course of 30 years as a journalist, taking in conflict zones such as Afghanistan, Iraq and Yugoslavia in the 1980s and 1990s.

“I accept this award on behalf of my colleagues who never bend down to pressure, either in Turkey or around the world, who insist on speaking the truth by taking all risks, who always have the awareness that journalism is an occupation that defends freedoms, democracy and peace,” said Tılıç upon receiving the award.