Will Europe defend journalists at risk today?

As journalists in Turkey face continuing pressure from the government many marked the anniversary of the murder of renowned Turkish investigative journalist Ugur Mumcu.

Killed in a car bomb explosion on 24 January 1993, he defined journalism as the medium that “talks about struggles in all areas of life”.

AEJ UK chairman and international media freedom representative William Horsley wrote that those words still ring true today as the struggle for survival of independent media across the world has grown more acute and many political leaders want to transform the role of the media from that of a public watchdog that holds power to account into propaganda weapons for their own advantage.

The AEJ joined a mission to Turkey with 10 other international media freedom, journalism and human rights groups  in October to warn of a growing crisis for freedom of expression in Turkey.

Marking the anniversary of a murder
AEJ joins IPI mission to Turkey
International Press Institute Mission report