Turkish News Agency-Cyprus (TAK)
Established in 1973, the Turkish News Agency-Cyprus (TAK) is the main news agency in North Cyprus. Recent years have seen new developments in its management and financial landscape.
Media assets
News agency: TAK
State Media Matrix Typology
Ownership and governance
TAK continues to be owned by the Government of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Its highest governing body is an Administrative Council appointed by the government, a structure that has remained consistent, according to information collected by the Media and Journalism Research Center (MJRC).
Dr. Fehmi Gürdallı is the Director-General of TAK. This appointment follows the previous chairmanship of Aydın Akkurt.
Source of funding and budget
As reported by local journalists interviewed for this report in May 2024, TAK is still primarily funded by the Government of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
Editorial independence
TAK’s editorial content remains under the control of the Government of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which local experts and journalists assert ensures the agency represents the interests of its backer, Turkey. No domestic statute or independent assessment/oversight mechanism has been identified to validate the agency’s editorial independence.
Recent editorial changes have come under scrutiny. For example, a Media Ethics Committee issued a public warning to TAK in April 2025 for a mistranslation that replaced the word “invaders” with “Turks” in a report on a statement by Archbishop Georgios. While TAK issued a correction, the committee found it insufficient and lacking in transparency. The incident was highlighted as an example of a bad editorial change that distorted critical context and contributed to hostile narratives.
August 2025