Ceylan Yeğinsu

Ceylan Yeğinsu (born 14 February 1986) is a Turkish-British journalist and currently a staff reporter for The New York Times.[1]

Early life and background

Yeğinsu was born in Istanbul, Turkey and is bi-lingual in English and Turkish.[1] She was educated at Woldingham School, Rugby School, and the University of Leeds. Her brother is the international lawyer and barrister Prof. Can Yeğinsu.

Career

Yeğinsu began her journalism career in 2008 as a reporter and editor for Hurriyet Daily News, where she covered politics, culture, business and sport. She also ran a weekly column on issues of gender equality in Turkey. In 2011, she received a master's degree in Digital Media at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and was awarded the Brigid O'Hara-Forster Fellowship. As a freelance reporter and multimedia journalist in New York and Istanbul, she worked for publications including The Atlantic, The Economist, Huffington Post, International Business Times.[2]

In 2013, Yeğinsu joined the New York Times' Istanbul Bureau.[2] In September 2014, she ran a front-page story on ISIL's recruitment of Turks in the Hacıbayram neighborhood of Ankara.[3] Her report was heavily criticized by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who called the story "shameless, ignoble, treason."[4] Yeğinsu was subsequently attacked by the newspaper Star and other pro-government media,[5] and received multiple death threats. The resulting intimidation campaign against Yeğinsu forced her to temporarily leave the country.[6] The directors of Reporters Without Borders, Article 19 and the English PEN published an open letter, reminding President Erdoğan of journalists significant role in a democracy and their protection in both Turkish and international law.[4] The U.S. State Department criticized Turkey for these attempts of intimidation and threat.[7]

Yeğinsu has since worked in the London bureau as an international correspondent[8] and in 2020 joined the travel desk as a staff reporter.[9]

References

1. "Ceylan Yeğinsu". New York Times. 1 January 2025. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
2. "Ceylan Yeğinsu". Ceylan Yeğinsu. Archived from the original on 4 July 2011. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
3. Ceylan Yeğinsu (15 September 2014). "ISIS Draws a Steady Stream of Recruits From Turkey". The New York Times. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
4. "Open letter to president Erdogan". Reporters Without Borders. 23 September 2014. Archived from the original on 4 August 2017. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
5. "Pro-Erdoğan media targets New York Times reporter". Today's Zaman. 18 September 2014. Archived from the original on 5 January 2016.
6. Alev Scott (6 July 2016). "As ISIS attacks mount, Turkey steps up its war on free speech". Newsweek. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
7. "Freedom of the Press – 2015 in Turkey". Freedom House. 2015. Archived from the original on 8 June 2015. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
8. "Meet the OPC Members: Q&A With Ceylan Yeginsu". Overseas Press Club. 19 July 2018. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
9. "Ceylan Yeginsu Joins Travel". The New York Times. 19 August 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2025.