Pro-government journalist resigns over daily's hate speech

The editor-in-chief at the pro-government Star daily announced on Wednesday that he has resigned from his duty on the grounds that he could no longer bear the hate speech the daily used for defamation.

Doğan Ertuğrul, who worked for Star daily for four years, quit his job, stating the reason of his resignation in a message he shared with the public.

Some media outlets have been called the "pool media" due to allegations that the prime minister ordered a number of businessmen to create a pool of funds to acquire the media group that owns those outlets. The Star daily, allegedly being one of them, sided with government, publishing news in favor of the ruling party and defaming the circles the government was disturbed by.

“What lies beneath my resignation is that I've lost faith in the stance of my daily, which I have always have been proud of. The youngsters who died during the Gezi Park protests began to be used as means to deepen a rift and polarization in the society by the ruling party. The animosity towards a respectful Islamic scholar, Fethullah Gülen, and the movement he inspired was at such an extent that they became the target of incomprehensible accusations,” Ertuğrul said in his message.

Complaining about the media's turning into a device to conduct black propaganda against some circles, Ertuğrul said there is no longer “qualified news” published in media outlets.

“It became almost impossible for me to continue my job here with dignity and balance. I say goodbye to all my colleagues whose occupational ethics I respect,” said Ertuğrul, ending his farewell message.

Published on Today's Zaman, 26 March 2014, Wednesday