The embargo of the Press and Information Agency (PIA) which mediates the publication of official advertisements of public institutions in newspapers and magazines against BirGün and Evrensel Newspapers continues. PIA inflicted the punishment of stopping advertisement on BirGün for not showing the source of the news and Evrensel for their headlines. 

 

Evrensel Newspaper Editor-in-Chief Fatih Polat and BirGün Newspaper Editorial Board Member İbrahim Varlı spoke to our agency about the reasons and results of the PIA embargo.

 

Polat, stating that they are going through a rough period, said: "The financial burden had already increased much more than it was before. These newspapers are forced to continue their publishing lives with the selfless efforts of their employees. We were already receiving a limited amount of advertisements, and with stopping that we have additional burden on our shoulders. It should also be stated that Evrensel has been recieving advertisements for 9 years since 2010. It was published without any advertisements for 16 years before that. We think that we will overcome this with the solidarity of our readers." Polat stating that they started a campaing called 'Read one, give one', made a call for solidarity to the people to protect the right to recieve news.

 

Polat stating that 'The survival of newspapers like Evrensel, Birgün, Yeni Yaşam and Cumhuriyet is only possible when the forces of democracy stands with them', said: "Standing together with these newspapers is of great importance in terms of defending the right of people to receive news against the power today."

 

  

BirGün Newspaper Editorial Board Member İbrahim Varlı who stated that the newspaper is effected financially, said: "We have forseen this was coming and we have been making our planning accordingly for some time now. Yes, we are effected and we will be effected more. But this does not mean we will submit to them or we will close down the newspaper. That will never happen. We will survive with the solidarity of our readers, with alternative economic methods and subscription campaigns."

 

WE ARE THE NEWSPAPER OF THOSE WHO CAN NOT BE HEARD

 

Varlı emphasizing that not only BirGün but also newspapers like Evrensel, Yeni Yaşam and Cumhuriyet are under attack, said: "We are talking about 3-4 newspapers in a country where 82 million people live. Ofcourse there is awareness but it needs to be further enhanced. Because we are the newspapers of those who can not be heard, we are the newspapers of the opposition, associations, trade unions, oppressed, we are the newspapers of those who are harassed, subjected to violence..By protecting us, they will essentially be protecting themselves and their own living spaces. We are the ones who brought the workers on strike to the headlines of those killed by police violence. We are the ones who have uncovered the corruption through the headlines. Without us, all this will be hidden from the public. So we need to increase solidarity and stand together even more."