In response TRT World – Turkey’s English-language broadcaster – posted its own ad to hire a London-based correspondent, using almost the same language and tone as Reuters.
A Reuters job advertisement for a journalist has sparked controversy in Turkey and among journalists because of its direct criticism of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his government.
According to international media, in the advertisement for the position of deputy head of the office in Istanbul, the Reuters agency reported that “Erdogan has transformed Turkey in his two decades in power, moving it away from modern secular traditions and turning it into a powerful diplomatic and military presence in areas stretching from the South Caucasus to North Africa’.
It said it was looking for “someone with strong writing skills and knowledge who can deliver in-depth reporting alongside the support of our high-performing team covering a critical juncture of the Erdogan rule – with runaway inflation and a devalued pound threatening his bid for re-election in the coming months.”
The targeting of Erdogan and his government’s policies drew condemnation today from the Turkish president’s communications director, Fahrettin Altun, who pointed out that “Reuters seems to be moving away from the facts and instead using a biased perspective on what happened with “modern secular traditions” in Turkey under Erdogan’s government. These statements are only fit for a propaganda pamphlet.”
Such behavior, he said, “is not journalism” and the agency “should ask reporters on the ground about the facts before deciding what has happened and using that as a guideline for the news.”
In response to the controversial job ad, TRT World – Turkey’s English-language broadcaster – posted its own ad to hire a London-based correspondent, using almost the same language and tone as Reuters.
Drawing attention to the UK’s political instability and economic issues, the ad highlights the “failure of successive governments to respond to challenges such as COVID-19, Brexit and the global financial crises, which have left Britain in political turmoil. Short-lived governments have put the UK’s future in doubt, distancing it from Europe.”
Prospective candidates and those hired for the job, TRT World wrote, must also “provide support to our high-performing team as they begin to cover important issues such as Scotland’s pursuit of independence and the threat it poses to its unity In the UK, runaway inflation and a depreciated pound are combining to further jeopardize Britain’s volatile political situation.”
He also expressed critical views on the UK’s existing and continuing monarchy in the 21st century, saying the death of Queen Elizabeth II had “revived” the debate about the future of the British royal family.
Middle East Monitor
Editor: Daily
Read the News today and get the latest news.
Follow Skai.gr on Google News and be the first to know all the news.
With a wealth of experience honed over 4+ years in journalism, I bring a seasoned voice to the world of news. Currently, I work as a freelance writer and editor, always seeking new opportunities to tell compelling stories in the field of world news.
