Thread by @sfrantzman

Symbolic: Turkey media orders Qatar's Al-Jazeera to "weed out" journalists it calls "second-tier activists and washed-up Westerners" or risk Qatar's relationship with Ankara. It demands "reciprocity" and Al Jazeera English is told to stop critiquing Turkey's policies

How often do media companies appear to speak on behalf of the state and say that because a Qatar-based (and funded) network is critical that therefore Turkey could "join forces" with other countries against Qatar. This is perfect example of nationalist-media-state relations

It is symbolic now of how far-right nationalist countries use media to send state messages and expect other countries media to not be critical. This isn't about media discussions, it's about state-to-state relations. It shows media is becoming an arm of the state and vice-versa.

This editorial should be widely read as an example of a kind of peak behind the curtain of how state-media relations are making media into tools of state policy. Wonder when western media will get this and see state media abroad as an extension of policy

dailysabah.com/editorial/2019…

This editorial also slammed Israel and other Gulf states for "ganging up on Qatar," claims Turkey supported Qatar and bashes Al-Arabiya...insinuating that Turkey could somehow work with Saudi (nah) against Qatar if Qatar's media doesn't toe the line.