Advertising and Media Capture in Turkey: How Does the State Emerge as the Largest Advertiser with the Rise of Competitive Authoritarianism?

This article examines the distribution of advertising in newspapers Turkey and impact government on allocation, particular, official announcements by partially state-owned enterprises private companies loyal to ruling party, as well pressure other commercial advertisers, during rule Justice Development Party between 2002 2020. It demonstrates that has, last decade, largely used sector a “carrot stick” tactic control through enterprises. further finds state has emerged recent years largest advertiser financing “captured media,” media ownership proved be not enough ensure docile news media. shifted competitive authoritarianism years, this selective allocation advertising, which is strong component suppressing independent The uncovers using two data sets show: (i) total spend received each newspaper (ii) how much space square centimeters have placed newspaper. Interviews with editors-in-chief also expose direct role advertising.