Baris Gundogan
14 March 2020•Update: 15 March 2020
ANKARA
Turkey’s Communications Director Fahrettin Altun sent letters to The New York Times, CNN International and BBC over their misleading use of photos in reporting coronavirus news from the U.S. and Europe.
According to a statement by the directorate on Saturday, Altun noted that only five cases have been confirmed in Turkey so far and no loss of life since the beginning of the outbreak.
“Although Turkey’s efforts are obvious since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak, using irrelevant photos from Turkey is just misleading readers,” he added.
The New York Times responded saying: “You are definitely right; those photos should not have been used. The photo editors who are responsible also admitted that it was wrong. The photo was removed.”
The New York Times had used a photo from Istanbul in the news of the U.S. travel ban on Europe.
BBC also used photos from Turkey in the news of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife’s quarantine, the U.S. travel ban, and closure of markets in Italy.
CNN also published the news of the cancellation of the Formula 1 Grand Prix Race in Melbourne, the statement made by the head of the heart surgery department in Italy and the suspension of public access to the Capitol Complex with visuals from Istanbul.
*Writing by Burak Dag
