Metin Göktepe Journalism Award for the New Turkish Five Investigation

April 10 2026

Ortak’s investigation The New Turkish Five, which revealed how blank-firing pistols produced in Turkey are used by organized crime networks in Europe and Turkey, has been awarded the Written News Prize at the 29th Metin Göktepe Journalism Awards.

Conducted by an investigative team consisting of Hazar Dost, Doğu Eroğlu, Egemen Gök, and Cengiz Erdinç, The New Turkish Five exposes how legally manufactured blank-firing firearms in Turkey are converted and integrated into international criminal networks. Published by Aposto, the investigation analyzes gaps in the production, export, and oversight of these weapons through data, court records, and field reporting. It also traces their circulation from Turkey to Europe via the Balkans and details the processes through which they are converted into live firearms.

At the award ceremony held at Agos newspaper on 10 April 2026, the Written News Prize for The New Turkish Five was presented to Hazar Dost by Çiğdem Toker.

As Ortak, we would like to thank the jury members for recognizing our investigation.

Hazar Dost, the lead of the New Turkish Five investigation, shared the following remarks on receiving the award:

“Receiving the Metin Göktepe Award at Hrant Dink’s newspaper first and foremost instilled in me a deep sense of responsibility toward journalism. We founded Ortak with a vision for journalism and aimed to demonstrate a different approach. The jury’s decision to grant us this award shows that we were right in our aspirations and that we are on the right path.

In today’s Turkey, where delivering the truth to the public is one of the most critical tasks, I feel a responsibility not only on a personal level but also in the face of the pressures on our profession. For the future of journalism, we will continue to practice journalism despite everything.

İsmail Arı, Pınar Gayıp, and Alican Uludağ—if our voices reach you within those four walls where you are unjustly detained, be proud and hopeful. This award is for you.”