GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany- The “Journalist of the Year in Europe” award, presented as part of the European Turkish Media Summit 2026, was awarded to Vatan Öz in recognition of his long-standing work in journalism, his contributions to diaspora media, and his publishing activities serving the Turkish community across Europe. The award was seen not only as a personal achievement, but also as a shared source of pride for Turks living in Europe and a recognition of more than a quarter-century of sustained media effort. Particularly significant for the Turkish community in the United Kingdom, the honour once again highlighted the importance of independent journalism within the European diaspora.
The award was presented to London base Vatan Öz at a ceremony held in the German city of Gelsenkirchen by Ali Paşa Akbaş, President of the European Turkish Press, Broadcasting and Journalists Association.
34 Years in Journalism, 25 Years of Uninterrupted Publishing
Having worked as a journalist for 30 years in the United Kingdom — England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, Vatan Öz has also published Avrupa Gazetesi continuously for 25 years. With 1,253 issues published to date, Avrupa Gazetesi marked its 25th anniversary this week, while Öz celebrated his 34th year in the profession.
Öz began his studies at Istanbul University Faculty of Communication in 1992 and became actively involved in magazine, newspaper, television and radio journalism during his student years. Between 1992 and 1996, before completing his degree, he founded a media research company providing studies for Turkish media outlets, attracting wide attention.
His research work was published in leading Turkish media such as Aktüel, Tempo and Hürriyet. During this period, he conducted media research for numerous organisations in Istanbul, including Power FM, Number One FM, Sabah, Hürriyet, Star TV and Istanbul FM. Through commissioned research for major media groups led by figures such as Cem Hakko, Cem Uzan and Emre Oral, his work contributed to shaping Turkish media practices.
After graduating, Öz relocated to London, where he has lived for nearly 30 years.
Throughout his career, he has received numerous awards in both Turkey and Europe. This time, he was honoured with one of Europe’s most prestigious journalism distinctions, the “Journalist of the Year in Europe” award.
Award Speech: “This Achievement Belongs to All of Us”
In his acceptance speech, Vatan Öz thanked the Turkish communities in the United Kingdom and across Europe, his readers, and everyone who supported him both morally and materially. He also expressed his appreciation to Ali Paşa Akbaş for his support of European Turkish media and his unifying approach.
Highlighting the sacrifices made by his family throughout his more than quarter-century-long publishing journey in the UK, Öz said:
“Throughout this process, I often worked at the expense of my family’s time. I would especially like to thank my family for their unconditional support.”
Clear Messages at the Media Workshop
Vatan Öz also participated as a speaker in the media workshop held within the scope of the summit. In his remarks, he addressed the structural challenges faced by Turkish media in Europe, its role in public diplomacy, and the difficulties confronting diaspora journalism.
“I have been in this profession for 33 years and publishing a newspaper in Europe for 25 years. With Avrupa Gazetesi, we have passed a quarter of a century,” Öz said, noting that he continues his publishing efforts with pride to serve the Turkish community in the UK and to preserve the Turkish language in Europe.
Emphasising that European Turkish media does not seek financial support from the Turkish state, Öz underlined that the core issue is respect and recognition. Referring to an invoice of approximately 3,000 euros received from Anadolu Agency, he explained his disappointment as follows:
“I work comfortably with global media giants such as the BBC and Reuters. I have organised special media sessions on Turkish media in the UK House of Lords and in the British Parliament. Neither the British state nor British news agencies demand money from us; even if they do not provide support, they show respect. However, receiving such an invoice from our own country’s news agency hurts us not financially, but morally. The issue is not money — it is respect.”
Öz stressed that Turkish media in Europe should not be treated as “second-class” and stated that diaspora media represents an important force for Turkey across Europe.
An International Journalism Profile
A member of the Foreign Press Association (FPA), the Global Journalism Council (KGK) and the Journalists Association of Turkey (TGC), Vatan Öz has managed six daily-updated news portals — two of them in English — and a weekly print newspaper for 25 years.
In 1993, while still a student, Öz worked within the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) under then Director General Prof. Dr. Tayfun Akgüner, drawing attention by conducting TRT’s first-ever media personnel research study.
He has delivered talks at internationally renowned organisations such as BBC, Reuters, MTV and The Guardian, and has participated in international panels and conferences in countries including Kazakhstan, Tatarstan, Russia, North Macedonia, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Germany and the United Kingdom, contributing to workshops and signing joint declarations.
Based in London, Öz is the founder of numerous media organisations currently publishing daily, including the English-language Avrupa Times, Avrupa News Agency, and Avrupa Gazetesi.
A graduate of Istanbul University Faculty of Communication, Öz also holds an MBA degree from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David in the United Kingdom. He works in the fields of media, journalism and global communication and has been living in London for nearly 30 years.
A Journalism Story, A Diaspora Legacy
Thirty-four years of journalistic experience, 25 years of uninterrupted publishing, and a long-standing struggle within the European diaspora…
The “Journalist of the Year in Europe” award honours not only the career of Vatan Öz, but also the memory, labour and resilience of Turkish media in Europe.
