A Turkish satellite channel fired a news anchor and a director, after a coffee cup bearing the American company Starbucks logo appeared on the table of the news presenter.
TGRT channel described what happened as “an indirect commercial advertisement for the company, in addition to the sensitivity of the matter for the people of Gaza and the Turkish people as well,” according to a statement yesterday evening, Sunday, December 24, 2023.
According to the statement published on the channel’s account on the “X” platform, “Al-Nashra anchor Meltem Gunay was seen presenting the news with a Starbucks cup in front of her.”
The channel said, “According to the principles of our organization, it is strictly forbidden for a broadcaster to present news in a way that would indirectly advertise any company. Therefore, the employment of the news anchor and the director who acted in violation of this principle have been terminated.”
ANNOUNCEMENT TO THE PUBLIC
In the news broadcast of TGRT Haber TV dated 24.12.2023, Meltem Günay, who was an announcer, was seen presenting the news with a Starbucks cup in front of her.
In accordance with the principles of our institution, the announcer will not be able to covertly advertise any company on TGRT Haber TV.
— TGRT NEWS (@tgrthabertv) December 24, 2023
The statement continued, “Our institution is aware of the sensitivities of the Turkish people regarding the Gaza issue, which they defend until the end, and it is impossible to approve any action or broadcast that contradicts this. In our case, we do not approve of this behavior by the broadcaster and director, whose employment contracts with the channel have been terminated.”
The channel added in its statement, “We strongly condemn this behavior. Our institution will continue to stand by the people of Gaza and Turkey and take into account their sensitivities until the end.”
Gunay was born in Bursa on February 6, 1978. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication at Yeditepe University and has been working as a news anchor for TGRT for 3 years. She also won the channel’s award for best morning program presenter in 2017.
Social media platforms witnessed campaigns to boycott the American “Starbucks” after this famous chain filed a lawsuit against its employees’ union for their support of Palestine.
The chain has more than 35,000 branches in 86 countries United State It alone has more than 9,000 branches, compared to nearly 1,900 cafes in 11 countries in the Middle East and North Africa, with more than 19,000 employees.
And Starbucks incurred Losses estimated at $11 billion Amid boycott campaigns against the backdrop of war Israel on Gaza stripAs well as the impact of employee strikes and weak promotional activity.
The American “Newsweek” said that the recent weeks were full of turmoil for “Starbucks” and led to campaigns… Boycott The employees’ strike in demand to improve the work environment and wages, and the weak demand for promotional offers, led to a decrease in the company’s market value by $10.98 billion.
The magazine explained that the stock market had a severe impact on “Starbucks” at a time when the company was facing complex societal issues, which forced investors to withdraw from owning the company’s shares, and pushed its shares to the longest series of losses since its first offering on the financial markets in 1992.
Source : Al Jazeera + Turkish press + social media sites
