Anadolu Agency
Anadolu Agency, Turkey’s official newswire, was established in 1920 amidst the Turkish War of Independence. With its headquarters in the capital city of Ankara, Anadolu delivers a wide range of services, including wire news, photos, graphics, and video content.
Media assets
News agency: Anadolu
State Media Matrix Typology
Ownership and governance
Anadolu Agency is formally a joint-stock company established by the Turkish state. Its ownership remains under the Undersecretariat of Treasury. With the ascent of the AKP (Justice and Development Party) to power, the agency, along with the public broadcaster TRT, has experienced increasing political pressure.
A presidential decree (in 2019) placed Anadolu under the Directorate of Communications, a department directly managed by the Presidency. Under that decree, the Presidency was given full auditing powers over the agency, and the authority to appoint its management, and to oversee its operations, including budget and staffing decisions.
As of the most recent data, Serdar Karagöz serves as President and CEO (Director-General / Chairman of the Board) of Anadolu Agency. He was appointed in 2021.
Source of funding and budget
Most of Anadolu Agency’s funding comes from state subsidies. This has been reported by local journalists and experts interviewed for this report in May 2024 and March 2025.
Editorial independence
Anadolu has traditionally functioned as a pro-government news agency. Recent years show an increasing bias toward the Turkish government, especially the Presidency. Changes since the 2019 decree have further intertwined the agency’s operations with Presidential oversight.
No statute guarantees Anadolu’s editorial independence in law; editorial guidelines (e.g. for coverage of emergencies, disasters, terrorist attacks) exist, but oversight mechanisms independent of the Presidency or state governance have not been found.
September 2025