Anadolu marks 106th anniversary, aims to boost global competitiveness

Anadolu Agency marked its 106th anniversary on Monday with an event in the capital, where President and CEO Serdar Karagoz outlined the agency’s ambitions to strengthen its global standing and competitiveness.

Speaking at a program held at Anadolu Headquarters with senior executives, coordinators, and staff, Karagoz said Anadolu plays a key role in Türkiye’s communication strategy and operates in line with the broader vision set by the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications.

He said the agency has revised its long-term goal from being among the world’s top 10 news agencies to entering the top five within five years, describing the target as ambitious but achievable given Anadolu’s strategic vision and institutional capacity.

Karagoz highlighted the agency’s multilingual output as a competitive advantage, noting that Anadolu now publishes in 14 languages, including the recent addition of Turkish Sign Language.

Providing details on the workforce, he said the agency employs 1,970 full-time staff and more than 2,700 freelance contributors from 136 nationalities.

He also underlined Anadolu’s growing international visibility, saying its content is regularly used by major global media outlets. “When an event happens in the US, such as a wildfire in California, outlets like CNN use Anadolu content because of our speed and production capacity,” he said.

Karagoz said the agency has strengthened its presence in international media organizations and expanded partnerships with global players such as Getty Images, Reuters, Imago, Newsflare, and StringersHub.

The agency has also introduced specialized editorial lines, including “Green Line,” “Discrimination Line,” and “Verification Line,” as part of efforts to deepen content production.

On infrastructure, he noted that Anadolu has upgraded its facilities in Ankara and Istanbul to meet international standards, including transforming older spaces into modern multi-purpose studios.

Karagoz also pointed to technological investments, saying the agency established AA Technology to develop software, cybersecurity solutions, and digital products for clients, contributing to revenue generation.

He added that the agency’s official website has been redesigned with a simplified interface, reaffirming Anadolu’s goal of enhancing its competitive position globally.

The program concluded with Karagoz presenting a commemorative plaque featuring the agency’s founding directive to Communications Director Burhanettin Duran, and a screening of an AI-generated video prepared for the anniversary.

Founded on April 6, 1920, under the direction of Ataturk during Türkiye’s War of Independence, Anadolu was created to keep the public informed amid provocations that could undermine national unity and to announce decisions shaping the national struggle. This year marks its 106th anniversary.

*Writing by Seyit Kurt in Istanbul