Turkish media search for sustainable business models

Over 180 Turkish news outlets have been closed since the 2016 coup attempt in Turkey. Those that have managed to continue publishing – despite all odds – now face crippling economic conditions, with print revenues shrinking, a still-unprofitable online sphere and fines slapped on news outlets critical of the Turkish government. The problems have escalated even more due to recent currency fluctuations that have severely impacted the cost of newsprint.

Those challenges and the need for sustainable business models were highlighted last week by a wide range of Turkey-based journalists at a conference in Berlin organized by the International Press Institute (IPI) in partnership with the German newspaper WELT.