ABSTRACT
Freedom of the press in Turkey is currently experiencing serious restrictions. Both censorship and self-censorship are widespread and have been internalized in the mainstream media outlets owned by businesspeople close to the government. Currently, there are no effective media accountability instruments in the country. The Press Council cannot function due to a lack of institutional and, consequently, financial support. Codes of ethics are ignored by mainstream media and pro-government media editors, and the newspapers no longer have ombudspersons. However, independent media initiatives that are monitoring the media and social media as well as collaborations with NGOs for a rights-based approach to journalism training are still crucial in raising social awareness about media accountability.
