Media Ethics Committee Members Announce Resignation Decision

In a written statement, the members said they will continue their duties until a new committee is formed and takes office, in order to avoid any disruption in ongoing work.

The committee said it had been operating for 13 years to promote ethical standards in media, strengthen self-regulation, and protect the credibility of journalism. It stated that its core objective has been to maintain an independent, pluralistic, and impartial ethics mechanism for all stakeholders in the media sector.

The statement noted that during the last 18 months, the current committee updated the internet journalism declaration, introduced regulations addressing emerging ethical challenges in digital media, prepared public service announcements, developed online working methods, and accelerated decision-making processes. It also said the committee had provided opinions on several key issues related to press freedom and ethical journalism, including amendments to Article 23B of the Criminal Procedure Law.

Communication breakdown with journalists’ union

The MEC also pointed to deteriorating relations with the Turkish Cypriot Journalists’ Union (KTGB), stating that a significant communication gap had emerged in recent months.

According to the statement, the most concrete example was the process of amendments to the MEC regulation adopted at the KTGB General Assembly. The committee claimed it was not consulted during the process, that its assessments were not requested, and that it only learned of the changes after the process had been completed. It also argued that last-minute inclusion of the issue in the General Assembly agenda did not allow members sufficient time for evaluation, and that objections raised during the assembly were not taken into account.

The members said media ethics institutions must themselves adhere to transparency, participation, and accountability principles, stressing that bypassing consultation on structural changes to the committee was ethically problematic.

“We will continue until a new committee is formed”

Despite their resignation decision, the members said they will continue their duties until a new committee is appointed, in order to ensure continuity.

They emphasised that their decision was not directed at the newly elected KTGB leadership and wished the new administration success.

The statement concluded by expressing hope that the next MEC structure will operate in a more inclusive, transparent, and independent framework.

Outgoing members of the Media Ethics Committee:

• Aysu Basri Akter (KTGB representative – Chair)
• Çağdaş Öğüç (Faculty of Communication representative – Vice Chair)
• Nezire Gürkan (KTGB representative – Member)
• Halil Davulcu (KTGB representative – Member)
• Damla Soyalp (KTGB representative – Member)
• Yetin Arslan (Faculty of Communication representative – Member)
• Melis Türkkal (Cyprus Turkish Bar Association representative – Member)