According to a report prepared by the opposition party HDP (People’s Democratic Party), TRT News channel, the national public broadcaster of Turkey, broadcasted news and shows about the AKP and president Erdoğan for 4,113 minutes in total between March 1 and 22, while it is only 1 minute for HDP. Co-vice president of HDP, Saruhan Oruç, reported this inequality and demanded for sanctions to be imposed against this practice.
TRT IS NOT NEUTRAL
It is widely known that it has been critical for the AKP government to employ pro-AKP personnel within government offices and TRT (Turkish Radio and Television Corporation) has not remained behind this spoils system. A recent HDP report revealed that TRT news channel has worked as a propaganda tool for the AKP government in the pre-referendum political environment. According to the report, between March 1 and 22, Erdoğan was on TV for 1,390 minutes in total; the AKP and government officials were seen for 2,723 minutes; and the total time allocated to CHP, MHP and HDP was 216, 48 and 1 minute(s), respectively.
NO COVERAGE FOR OPPOSITION PARTIES
It is also reported that this fact is also true for other national TV channels. Erdoğan and the AKP were in live broadcast for 420 hours in total in 17 different national channels, HDP was not represented at all in March.
An example verifying this inequality has been experienced recently. While broadcasting CHP leader’s speech live, CNN Türk, NTV and Habertürk news channels censored the speech when Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu allowed a martyr’s family member speak. While CNN Türk and NTV turned off the sound, Habertürk went off the air.
