Anadolu Agency marks 99 years

ANKARA Turkey-based international news agency Anadolu Agency celebrates its 99th anniversary on Saturday. Regarded as one of the world’s most prestigious news agencies, it currently produces news in 13 languages and serves 6,000 subscribers in 93 countries, with at least 3,000 employees stationed in 100 countries. Established on April 6, 1920 -- 17 days before the opening of the Grand National Assembly of the Republic of Turkey -- Anadolu Agency on average publishes 1,600 stories, 2,300 photos, six infographics, 400 videos and airs 15 live broadcasts daily. The agency has been striving to be among the most effective news agencies as it approaches its centenary, which will be celebrated in April 2020. It currently produces news in Turkish, English, Arabic, Russian, French, Spanish, Kurdish/Kurmanji, Kurdish/Sorani, Persian, Indonesian, Bosnian, Albanian and Macedonian. The agency has a unique standing in the world with its news and powerful visuals broadcast from the most compelling regions of the world. Turkish newspapers publish 63 percent of the photos and 40 percent of the stories produced by Anadolu Agency. In addition, Turkish news websites feature 89 percent of Anadolu Agency’s special reports. The agency has 41 offices worldwide and representative offices in 100 countries. Its social media accounts are followed by 9 million people. Anadolu Agency maintains the "master/apprentice doctrine", which is increasingly being put aside in the journalistic profession. The doctrine has been revived through practical training at the Anadolu Agency News Academy founded in 2011. Providing training in many fields -- including war journalism -- Anadolu Agency also guides beginners with its fundamental guide for reporters and handbook for war journalism. Anadolu Agency Publications Anadolu Agency brings the journalism experience to its audience thanks to its "AA Publications" brand. Anadolu Agency almanacs, published in Turkish, English and Arabic, serve as an important archive documenting leading incidents across the world on an annual basis. In addition to the almanacs, Anadolu Agency also prepares informative booklets on significant incidents. Through a booklet titled "Jamal Khashoggi’s Murder" published in three languages, it presented all the details regarding the killing of the Saudi journalist. Anadolu Agency has also published authentic works such as "Turkey From the Air", "Africa Rising" and analyses covering current events, such as "Trump and Global Order" and "Peaceful Cities". Global Communication Partnership Providing media support to national and international activities, Anadolu Agency sponsored 11 international events and 31 national events in 2018 under the title of "Global Communication Partnership". Cooperation Thanks to content exchange agreements that Anadolu Agency signed in 54 countries, photo and video content is shared with coordinating media outlets, especially in English news. Anadolu Agency took the helm for one year of the Association of the Balkan News Agencies – Southeast Europe (ABNA-SE) following the organization's general assembly in Istanbul in 2018. Anadolu Agency also has cooperation agreements with 19 organizations, including TIKA (Turkish Aid Agency), YTB (Turkey's Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities), D8 (Developing 8) and SETA (Turkish think-tank). Visual power of Anadolu Agency "Anadolu Images", a portal that provides worldwide access to the agency’s photos, has an archive of 5.8 million images. Special projects Anadolu Agency controls and prepares the bulletins of companies which have an agreement with AA Corporate News, for publishing. With its news publishing system, Anadolu Agency supplies stories to media outlets in Turkey. With its Finance Terminal, it also provides service to the financial world by sharing the data of Turkey's leading companies. Its Energy Terminal operates as a platform in which analyses and reports regarding domestic and international companies are monitored. Istanbul Photo Awards In 2015, Anadolu Agency started the "Istanbul Photo Awards", an international photojournalism event. It is held on an annual basis with a view to encouraging photojournalism in the most challenging areas of media. Promoting Turkey in the international arena, the event was transformed into an indicator of Anadolu Agency's power in the visual field. The "Istanbul Photo Awards Photobook" contains the winning photos from the event and is distributed to all parts of the world. The winners for 2019 will be announced in Istanbul in April following the convening of the jury. Anadolu Agency, run by thousands of nameless heroes, continues to inform the world daily, just as it did 99 years ago, as it confidently approaches its 100th anniversary. *Writing by Ali Murat Alhas and Can Erozden