About

The International Press Institute (IPI) is a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists who share a common dedication to quality, independent journalism.

Together, we promote the conditions that allow journalism to fulfill its public function, the most important of which is the media’s ability to operate free from interference and without fear of retaliation.

Ahmet Emin Yalman, a co-founder of IPI, wrote the first doctoral thesis on journalism in Turkey in 1914 at Columbia University, now boasting the world’s top journalism school. Yalman was also one of the founders of the Ottoman Press Society, the first professional journalism organization in Turkey.

Yalman, who had supported Turkey’s War of supported Turkey’s War of Liberation from the very beginning and had even been personally invited by Atatürk to observe the Great Offensive, which crowned the final battle with a decisive victory, was the only journalist invited to the frontlines. Throughout his life, he consistently took a stance in favor of democracy and freedoms. He resisted all forms of pressure in pursuit of independent and professional journalism, rejected political duties, and opposed extremism of any kind. He paid the price for insisting on ethical journalism by occasionally going to prison, sometimes being banned from his profession, and even once surviving an assassination attempt.

After the Second World War, as a new world was being established and Turkey was transitioning to a multi-party democracy, Yalman, in October 1950, co-founded the International Press Institute (IPI) at Columbia University in New York with 34 journalists from 15 countries. The goal of these journalists was to create the first international network of solidarity and cooperation to defend press freedom and promote quality journalism across the globe, believing that a free media would contribute to building a better and more peaceful world. IPI is one of the oldest and most widespread organizations advocating for media freedom worldwide.

Throughout its first seven decades, it has had its headquarters in Zurich, London, and now in Vienna. IPI’s true strength lies in its global membership network, which includes hundreds of respected journalists in nearly 100 countries and its national committees in 15 countries across 4 continents.

History of IPI Türkiye

1950

In October, journalist Ahmet Emin Yalman co-founded IPI at Columbia University in New York with 34 journalists from 15 countries. Since 1950, the IPI Turkey National Committee has continuously existed in various forms.

1952

The “IPI Report” began systematically recording press freedom violations around the world for the first time.

1960

Turkey’s Journalists Association (TGC) invited IPI to assist in preparing and overseeing the implementation of a document titled the “Press Code of Ethics” and establishing a “Press Honor Council.”

1960s

The Turkish-language bulletin “Press World,” jointly published by TGC and IPI.

1961

Turkish-Greek journalists were first brought together by IPI in 1961 after the war.

1964

The IPI General Assembly, with the participation of numerous media representatives from around the world and prime ministers of the time, was held in Turkey.

1970

TGC and IPI co-authored and published a brief history of journalism education in Turkey.

1972

On February 14, TGC adopted the 9-point document prepared by IPI as the “Journalists’ Code of Ethics” during its General Assembly.

1976

IPI was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize due to its international efforts for peace and understanding.

1989

IPI received Turkey’s Press Freedom Award, which TGC first presented in 1989, in the institutional category.

2006

IPI received an Emmy Award in the “News and Documentary” category, further highlighting its pioneering role.

2007

Once again, the IPI General Assembly was held in Turkey.

2016

The International Press Freedom Organizations Coalition, which includes IPI, was honored with Turkey’s Press Freedom Award once again.

2024

For over seven decades, IPI has been one of the oldest and most widespread organizations advocating for media freedom worldwide. Its true strength lies in its global membership network, which includes hundreds of respected journalists in nearly 100 countries and its national committees in 15 countries across 4 continents today.

Excerpts from the report:

Victory is Something to be Borne

Exploring a Century of Press Freedom in Turkey on the Republic’s 100th Anniversary

Throughout its history of over 70 years, we pay our respects to the pioneering journalists who have served on the IPI Turkey leadership, such as Ahmet Emin Yalman, Abdi İpekçi, Şevket Rado, Metin Toker, Hasan Cemal, Necati Zincirkıran, Sami Kohen, Altan Öymen, Gül Demir, Zafer Atay, Ferai Tınç, and Kadri Gürsel, as well as IPI Press Freedom Heroes like Hrant Dink and communication science gurus like Prof. Dr. Nermin Abadan, who contributed to the organization.

Being locked up in a cell is certainly not a pleasant and trivial thing. However, for a century, the path of rights and freedom struggle in Turkey has always passed through banishments and prisons. Being able to walk in the footsteps of Mithat Pashas, Namık Kemals, and Ziya Pashas is a blessing and an honor

Despite the rise in the number of women journalists after the 1980s, their influence did not increase as much, as explained by women journalists themselves. Although there are no visible barriers to women taking managerial positions at newspapers, there are invisible barriers that prevent women from climbing up the higher echelons of management.

Targeting the Kurdish media has been a common denominator of various periods of repression in the history of the Republic. … In the 1990s, Kurdish journalists were silenced through murders; today, there is an ongoing attempt to silence them through the courts.