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The article discusses Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's admission to having called Mehmet Fatih Sarac, deputy chairman Turkish media conglomerate Ciner Yayin Holding, demanding headlines be removed in a broadcast news story, with details on other such recordings on streaming media website YouTube as of February 2014.

The article focuses on a warning issued by the European Union (EU) over the tax case against Dogan Yayin Holding AS, the biggest media group of Turkey, in October 2009. The EU noted a threat being posed by the case to press freedom. Approximately 50% of medial outlets in the country is controlled by the group. The move of Turkey to sign a deal with Armenia to reopen the border between the two nations and build diplomatic relations was commended by the European Commission.

The article reports on the sharp decline in shares of Turkish media group Dogan Yayin Holding AS on October 13, 2009 following news about the rejection by the government of the collateral it offered against a 4.8 billion Turkish lira bill for alleged unpaid tax and penalties. Dogan claims that the tax case against them is politically driven, although the government denies it. The implications of the case for media freedom in the country is noted by the European Union.

The article reports on the move of Turkish Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek to defend the courts and tax system of the country at the end of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) annual meeting in 2009. He called a back-tax case against the Dogan Yayin Group as technical. Simsek also reiterated the preference of Turkey for its loan facility with the IMF to support the medium-term economic program of the government instead of the one set out by the IMF. The European Union (EU) is said to be concerned over the effect of the case on press freedoms.

The author reflects on the complex relationship of the Turkish government with freedom of speech. He describes how the Turkish government transformed Turkish papers and television stations into loyalist outlets. He criticizes the country's ruling conservative party, Justice and Development Party (AKP) for stifling secular media coverage. The author also claims that the tragedy of the Turkish media is the fact that it is owned by companies that have other business interests.

The article reports on the dispute between media mogul Aydin Dogan and the Turkish government over corruption. Dogan said that new corporate-tax bill and his $500 million fine were efforts of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to restrain criticisms. He is the chairman of Dogan Sirketler Grubu Holdings AS that controls 7 newspapers, 28 magazines, 3 television channels and energy companies. He added that 7 of his companies are facing tax investigations after his media outlets exposed the business dealings of Erdogan's sons and wife.