Source of reliable news Anadolu Agency marks 98 years

By Mumin Altas

ANKARA (AA) – Anadolu Agency in its 98th year operates as an international news agency, publishing in 13 languages and serving over 2,000 subscribers across 50 countries.

The agency maintains offices in 100 countries.

It is progressing towards its 100th year of establishment via 1,650 news per day, 2,330 photographs, 400 videos published and 15 live broadcasts.

Anadolu Agency closely mirrors the history of the Republic of Turkey itself. It was established on April 6, 1920 -- only 17 days before the Turkish Parliament opened.

Today, it is a source of reliable news via its 98 years of experience.

The agency is celebrating its 98th foundation anniversary today and continuing its efforts to be at the forefront of the world’s most influential news agencies in its 100th year. Anadolu Agency, which conveys most recent developments from the most dynamic regions of the world, is making a difference via the news and images it publishes from the geographies that is difficult to report from.

- Increasing production, higher quality

Broadcasting news, photos and videos in 13 languages, Anadolu Agency is the source of reliable news not just in Turkey but the rest of the world.

Already posting news in Turkish, English, Arabic, Russian, Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian (BCS), French, the Kurdish dialects of Kurmanji and Sorani, Albanian, Macedonian, and Persian, the agency has lately started Indonesian and Spanish services, broadcasting in 13 languages.

Anadolu Agency which also delivers six infographics to its subscribers worldwide, produces 63 percent of the photos and 40 percent of the news published in national newspapers in Turkey.

Also, national news websites use 89 percent of feature stories covered by Anadolu Agency.

The agency has also made an important breakthrough in live streaming services as 15 programs and events are broadcast live daily.

- Global network

Through its global network of correspondents, offices in 41 countries and representatives in 100 countries, Anadolu Agency is serving over 2,000 subscribers in 50 countries round the clock.

The agency -- which has broadcasting centers in Ankara, Istanbul, Addis Ababa, Bogota, Brussels, Jakarta, Erbil, Jerusalem, New York, Sarajevo, Tunis and Skopje -- owns offices in Athens, Baghdad, Belgrade, Berlin, Beirut, Gaza City, Islamabad, Kabul, Cairo, Kirkuk, Kuala Lumpur, Lefkosa, London, Moscow, Paris, Beijing, Pristina, Rabat, Ramallah, Sofia, Sulaymaniyah, Tehran, Tirana, and Washington.

It also has representatives in Australia, Austria, Algeria, South Africa, Georgia, Spain, Switzerland, Italy, Qatar, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Libya, Hungary, Nigeria, Somalia, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Yemen.

- Expansion in Africa

Anadolu Agency has launched a new structure to be more effective in the African continent, which also gives special attention to Turkey's foreign policy. It will open new offices in major capitals of Africa such as Abuja, Dakar, Khartoum, Johannesburg and Mogadishu as well as Geneva, Riyadh and Vienna to further strengthen its global structure and to follow regional developments closely.

- Social media

Anadolu Agency is actively using social media and its websites to broadcast news in 13 languages; apart from social media channels, applications for mobile devices and smart watches are also being used.

- Mentor-apprentice doctrine

The Anadolu Agency News Academy, which was established in 2011 following a decision made by the Board of Directors of Anadolu Agency, provides practical and systematic training involving the change experienced in the media, the developments in social media, and enabling effective use of technology.

Our objective is to ensure that people who work or want to work in the media sector possess the knowledge and skills of analytical thinking, problem solving, effective communication, news writing techniques, and video and photo shooting in the field of journalism. The “master/apprentice” doctrine, which is increasingly being put aside in the profession of journalism, has been revived through practical training at the Academy.

The handbooks "Reporter" and "War Journalism" published by Anadolu Agency aim to provide journalists who report in Turkish with basic newswriting and style guidelines.

- Special books for special days

The Anadolu Agency’s almanac, published each year in Turkish, English and Arabic, documents the important events of the relevant year.

Additionally, Anadolu Agency prepares informative books on events that mark the year. Anadolu Agency has prepared a 100-page book titled “Minute by Minute FETO coup attempt” covering the chronology of defeated July 15 coup and its aftermath.

The agency had also prepared a booklet titled “How to report terror news under 10 points?” which lays out the principles of responsible publishing on terror-related news.