By Utku Simsek and Ferdi Turkten and Esin Isik
ANKARA (AA) — Marking 104 years since the founding of Türkiye's leading news agency, a group of Anadolu executives and staff led by its CEO and President Serdar Karagoz visited the mausoleum of the country's founding father on Saturday.
Accompanied by Deputy General Directors Yusuf Ozhan and Oguz Enis Peru along with Anadolu staff, Karagoz laid a wreath inscribed "Anadolu Ajansi" at Mustafa Kemal Ataturk's final resting place in Anitkabir.
Taking a photo at the memorial after a moment of silence, they also visited the Misak-i Milli Tower on the southeastern edge of the memorial.
Karagoz wrote a message in the memorial book, highlighting Anadolu's founding principles and mission.
He emphasized the agency's coverage of significant events, including global conflicts and natural disasters, as well as its documentation of Israeli war crimes in Gaza.
Karagoz also outlined Anadolu's commitment to technological advancement, particularly in artificial intelligence, and its goal to maintain its place as a media industry leader.
- President Erdogan celebrates Anadolu's founding anniversary
Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sent a message of congratulations to Karagoz for Anadolu's founding anniversary.
"Anadolu Agency has fulfilled its duty of informing our people and the world public accurately and comprehensively, becoming the address of principled and reliable journalism. It also plays an important role as the voice of the oppressed all around the world," said Erdogan.
Türkiye's Communications Director Fahrettin Altun also marked Anadolu's 104th year, calling the agency an "important component of our fight against disinformation on national, regional, and global levels."
Anadolu is also "one of the most significant stakeholders in our goal, under the leadership of our President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to make the Century of Türkiye the 'Century of Communication'," he added.
"In today's communication world, where information security has declined as communication technology advances and the need for accurate information has risen, Anadolu Agency has become an indispensable address for reliable information," said Altun.
Today, Anadolu has representative offices in 100 countries, offices in 41 locations, and more than 1,750 staff, he further emphasized, underlining that it had become one of the widest and most effective news networks in the world.