Turkish news agency DHA chief resigns amid fugitive author’s coverage controversy

Celal Korkut, General Manager of Demiroren News Agency (DHA), and Bulent Ovacik, Deputy General Manager, have resigned following the controversy linked to the coverage of fugitive author Eylem Tok’s case.

Korkut, who began his career as an intern in 1978 and later served as a police courthouse reporter, had spent 33 years in various managerial roles. Ovacik had been with DHA for 14 years.

Their exit is attributed to Korkut’s alleged mishandling of a situation involving DHA reporter Rojda Altintas during the coverage of Eylem Tok’s case.

Korkut, who succeeded former General Manager Kubilay Gulbek in March 2021, faced criticism for his management during the incident.

The controversy

The controversy erupted after the Turkish author’s 17-year-old son, Timur C., was involved in an accident that resulted in the death of Oguz Murat Aci.

Allegations surfaced that the Demiroren family intervened to prevent news coverage, directly contacting the DHA reporter.

Rojda Altintas shared a recording of a call from a man named Ilker, who identified himself as Revna Demiroren’s driver and urged her not to cover the story.

Altintas also posted on social media about how she faced various pressures from the agency’s management and external influences.