The Washington, D.C., SPJ Pro chapter met with a group of visiting Turkish journalists. The group was hosted by the International Visitors Program, run out of the US State Department.
Chapter President Denise Dunbar and Treasurer Dan Kubiske met with the group. Kubiske is also the co-chair of the SPJ International Community. The group was interested in knowing how small-town newspapers operate. Dunbar, publisher and editor of the Alexandria (VA) Times, talked about how she has been able to keep the paper running at a time with local newspapers keep closing around the country. The Turkish team noted they are facing similar problems.
The discussion came around to the issue of censorship in Turkey. The visitors noted that there are a number of restrictions on what journalists can report on and on what commentators can say.
The group will be visiting a number of other U.S. cities as part of their program.
