Turkey’s largest professional organization in its sector that represents nearly 4,000 journalists, Turkish Journalists Association (TGC) was founded in 1946. It was watershed period when the forces of democracy defeated fascism and Nazism in the world and Turkey decided to move from a single party regime to a multi-party democracy. The only professional organization of the journalists in Turkey before TGC was the Association of the Press (Matbuat Cemiyeti) that was a semi-official body affiliated with the single-party regime.

The founders of TGC were Sedat Simavi, a well-known journalist, publisher and cartoonist, who would later become the publisher of daily Hurriyet, and other prominent journalists of that period such as Sadun Galip Savci, Hayri Alpar, Cihat Baban and Sait Kesler.

The founders were motivated by the idea that the journalists should have an independent professional organization of their own that would safeguard the principles of the professional and protect its members.

Sedat Simavi who became the first president of TGC has left his motto as the main principle to be observed by the members of the profession: “Break your pen if it is necessary but never sell it.”

TGC is run by a 11-member Executive Board which is elected by the General Assembly for three-year terms. Other organs constitute of Auditing Committee, Disciplinary Committee and the Ballotage Committee that makes decisions on whether to accept or reject membership applications.

Since its foundation TGC has remained loyal to these principles, being an outspoken defender of press freedom and freedom of expression even under very difficult circumstances as Turkey is currently facing with scores of incarcerated journalists. TGC provides legal assistance to journalists facing courts regardless of whether they are members or not.

TGC also runs a Press Museum where the historical tools of the trade like old printing systems and memorabilia donated to the museum by the families of famous journalists are on display. A separate gallery has portraits of slain journalists from the late Ottoman period to the very recent ones who lost their lives while working for the peoples’ right to get informed.

A hostel for the senior members of the profession is also affiliated with TGC.

Bizim Gazete, is a daily newspaper published by TGC.