To Speak for the Silenced

To Speak for the Silenced

Channel 24 is more than just a television channel. It is an effort to become a voice. A form of resistance. A responsibility. And above all, it is a new platform born out of the ongoing struggle for human rights.

This journey did not begin merely with the idea of launching a media project, but with the urgent need to fill the void created by a deep deficiency, chronic silence, and systematic neglect. Because we have not only observed the human rights violations, injustices, discrimination, and silencing that have taken place in this country for years — we have lived them, witnessed them, and been part of them.

I, Kurtuluş Baştimar, have learned through years of walking alongside people in pursuit of justice within the field of law: human rights are not just a concept, but a form of struggle. And this struggle is not won solely in courtrooms, but also in the conscience of the public. That is why Channel 24 was born. Because there was a need for a platform where this voice could be heard by all.

In today’s society, speaking the truth often comes with a cost. Freedom of the press is not just the right of journalists, but also the foundation of the public’s right to be informed. However, day by day, this right is being pushed aside, and the media is becoming increasingly monolithic. Yet democracy is only possible through plurality. Channel 24 exists to remind people of this plurality, to make the invisible visible, and to give voice to the silenced.

Our broadcasting policy is different from the clichés of mainstream media. We are not here just to “report news,” but to give meaning, to refresh memory, and to touch consciences. In every program, every interview, every documentary, our aim is to center human dignity, confront the truth, and create real awareness in society.

While documenting human rights violations, we do not focus solely on victimhood; we also tell the stories of resistance, solidarity, and healing. Because human rights are shaped not only by suffering, but by dignified struggles. This channel is on the air to amplify the voice of an imprisoned journalist, a refugee waiting at a border, the relatives of a forcibly disappeared person, a silenced artist, a woman seeking equality. And we see amplifying these voices not as a privilege, but as a duty.

Channel 24 is not the backyard of any political, economic, or ideological group. We have only one side: human rights. Our partiality lies with the rule of law, freedom of expression, equal citizenship, peace, and the right to a dignified life. We act with a broadcasting principle that is fearless, straightforward, and honest — without distortion or compromise.

This approach to broadcasting is risky. Yes. But in a media landscape where everything can be bought, being a voice that cannot be bought is our greatest strength. Because we have chosen not to be silent. We have chosen not to retreat, but to step forward. This is a conscious choice. And it is also a call:

There must now be an audience that doesn’t just watch, but questions, thinks, compares, and demands accountability. Because the struggle for rights is not only the duty of those who are subjected to violations — it is the responsibility of society as a whole. We are taking on this responsibility. And we want everyone to be a part of it.

We believe in one thing very clearly: A more just world is possible. And that possibility can only be realized through bold platforms that speak the truth. Channel 24 is the concrete embodiment of that possibility.

If one day a child grows up in a more just world,

If a woman can speak without fear,

If a prisoner can make their voice heard outside,

If a society can confront its past —

Then this channel will have fulfilled its purpose.

Because we are not just broadcasting.

We are tracking the truth.

We are on air for human rights.

Kurtuluş Baştimar - Editor-İn-Chief