Can independent media survive in Türkiye?

Independent Media Sustainability Report from Digital Media Research Association: Gazete Makina Attended the Launch

Independent journalism in Turkey has reached a threshold where the dynamics of the global media crisis intersect with country-specific political, economic, and technological pressures. While digitalization erodes traditional revenue models, platform dependency, algorithmic uncertainty, and declining public trust bring the question of “survival” rather than “profitability” to the forefront for media.

Seeking answers to this question, a comprehensive report prepared by Dr. Sarphan Uzunoğlu and Saba Çevik from the Digital Media Research Association addresses the sustainability of independent digital media in Turkey not only as a financial but also as a structural issue. Gazete Makina, as an independent publication advocating for the widespread adoption of green and sustainable energy in industry and the strengthening of sectoral knowledge, is directly part of this discussion.

Gazete Makina Was at the Report Launch

Gazete Makina’s co-founders Dr. Laura Avadar and Mechanical Engineer Hakan Bilgehan personally attended the report’s launch event held on January 26, 2026. In her post-event assessment, Avadar emphasized that Gazete Makina does not merely produce news but plays a critical guiding role in industry’s transition to clean energy, efficiency, and sustainability.

“As Gazete Makina, our main source of revenue is advertising. However, this is not sufficient to sustain independent and quality publishing. National and international funding mechanisms are vital for specialized platforms like us,” said Avadar, drawing attention to an important issue:

“Unfortunately, some funding organizations may overlook sectoral publications when selecting media outlets to support. Yet platforms producing in-depth knowledge in areas such as industry, energy, and technology are indispensable for the healthy progress of transformation processes.”

The Report’s Core Question: Profit or Survival?

At the heart of the report lies this question:

Not “Can independent media make a profit?” but “Can independent media survive?”

The analysis conducted using DW Akademie’s Media Viability Indicators framework reveals that media sustainability in Turkey depends not only on revenue models but also on the capacity to combat political pressures, platform dependency, and institutional insecurity.

According to findings based on interviews with editors, union representatives, and media experts, independent media in Turkey:

• Operates under political uncertainty and selective sanctions,
• Is excluded from advertising and public announcements,
• Has become structurally dependent on Google and social media algorithms,
• Struggles to build audience trust.

Algorithms and Economics

According to the report, following Google’s algorithm updates in the 2024–2025 period, many independent publications experienced traffic drops ranging from 30% to 80%. Such non-transparent interventions collapse revenue models by eliminating visibility overnight.

The crisis experienced by Gazete Duvar in 2025 is cited as one of the most concrete examples of this fragility. The algorithm-based access model, combined with investor withdrawal, revealed how quickly even a platform with a strong editorial team can dissolve.

“Community” as a New Type of Capital

Another element the report emphasizes is “community.” The examples of Medyascope and Fayn demonstrate that models where readers act not merely as consumers but as stakeholders strengthen economic and editorial independence. Trust becomes a new type of capital in an environment where advertising is unstable.

This approach is also familiar to Gazete Makina: Producing reliable information in the world of industry, energy, and production creates not only news value but also a long-term relationship foundation.

Gazete Makina: Independent and Specialized Publishing Must Be Strengthened

Gazete Makina advocates that knowledge-based, specialized, and independent publishing must be strengthened for increased renewable energy investments, reduced carbon footprint in industry, and enhanced production efficiency.

Dr. Laura Avadar

In Dr. Laura Avadar’s words:

“The sustainability of publications like Gazete Makina is a fundamental issue not only for media but also for industry. Healthy transition to green energy is possible through accurate information reaching the right actors. For this, independent digital sectoral publishing must be supported and not left invisible.”

Gazete Makina emphasizes the need to establish an inclusive and resilient information environment where specialized publishing is visible in the media ecosystem and industrial world, funding and support mechanisms are distributed fairly, accurate and reliable information reaches decision-makers without interruption, and which will sustain both media and production sectors in the long term.

To review the report details, you can visit https://www.newslabturkey.org/2026/01/26/turkiyede-bagimsiz-gazetecilik-surdurulebilirlik-degil-hayatta-kalma-meselesi/