Anadolu Agency from its establishment to present
The history of Anadolu Agency (AA) is almost identical to that of the Republic of Turkey. Having been founded on April 6, 1920, 17 days before the Turkish Grand National Assembly opened its doors, the Anadolu Agency helped announce the first laws of the Assembly that established the Republic. Anadolu Agency is often remembered simultaneously with
the name "Ataturk". Correspondents of the Anadolu Agency were always with the founder of the Agency, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, and they covered his trips inside the country. Anadolu Agency correspondents published news stories on Ataturk's speeches to the people, and did their best to publicize the goals stated by Ataturk. Anadolu Agency correspondents made great efforts so that the reforms made by Ataturk received strong support. News stories written by AA correspondents were used in chronologies prepared on Ataturk and the Republic of Turkey. AA's news were widely used in books on Ataturk's speeches and trips. AA correspondents witnessed Ataturk's happiness while he was implementing new services for the Republic of Turkey and its people. AA correspondents felt sadness while writing news stories on Ataturk's health condition. AA correspondents felt great pain while publishing the official announcement on Ataturk's death. The history of Anadolu Agency carries importance for the history of Turkish Press and history of Turkish Literature. Journalists such as Yunus Nadi Abalioglu, Rusen Esref Unaydin and Falih Rifki Atay, and authors such as Halide Edip Adivar and Yakup Kadri Karaosmanoglu all worked for the AA and helped the Agency develop and get stronger. Anadolu Agency is a witness of Turkey's foreign policy, Turkey's social, economic and daily life. As such, AA's news stories and photographs are important sources for all researchers. AA being established
Following the official occupation of Istanbul on March 16, 1920 and the closure of the first Turkish Parliament, Mustafa Kemal sent directives to cities on March 19 to hold elections for a Parliament to convene in Ankara. Many intellectuals who saw that it was no longer possible to stay in Istanbul were seeking for ways to join the National Struggle. This development led to the establishment of the Anadolu Agency. On the way to Ankara in two separate delegations, the owner of "Yeni Gun" newspaper Yunus Nadi (Abalioglu) and journalist and author Halide Edip (Adivar) met in Geyve on March 31. The two "nationalist" intellectuals talked about the need to establish an agency while their train stopped for a break at the Geyve-Akhisar (today's Pamukova) station. Out of names such as "Turk", "Ankara" and "Anadolu", they agreed on the name "Anadolu Agency". On the way to future
Anadolu Agency follows its principle of "accurate, fast and objective" news with the same excitement as on its first day and keeps up with the developments in the technology. As the "first national" organization of the Turkish state which began working before the Turkish Grand National Assembly opened its doors, the Anadolu Agency contributed to the national liberation struggle and shares the same excitement today with the most advanced computer technology. Anadolu Agency began using telex in the 1940s, developed its news network in the 1960s and 1970s, and on September 7, 1986 began using latest computer technology. AA's computer network of domestic and international offices uses state of the art technology. Anadolu Agency moved to its present location in Tandogan district of Ankara in February 1998 after serving at its former location on Sihhiye Hanimeli Street for over 30 years. A professional Art Gallery was established as part of the new AA headquarters. Anadolu Agency has 28 regional offices throughout Turkey and has correspondents in 30 foreign locations. AA provides around 700 news stories to its subscribers on a daily basis. Anadolu Agency implemented a data broadcasting system (VBI) in 1999. Thanks to such a system, AA was able to reach all corners of Turkey and was able to extend to a wide geography from Europe to the Turkic republics and from the Middle East to Northern Africa. Aside from providing written and visual news, Anadolu Agency also began providing services to GSM companies and internet organizations. Anadolu Agency is one of the four biggest news agencies in the world with its photograph services utilizing the most advanced technology. AA provides more than 150 photographs daily by its computer system and satellite connection. Anadolu Agency published its first prestige book "Ataturk and Anadolu Agency" on April 6, 2002. This publication was followed by "Handbook of the Correspondent" on October 1, 2003 and a chronology on the 80 years of the Republic of Turkey (March 2004). International cooperation
Anadolu Agency receives thousands of news stories from national news agencies of more than 100 countries and cooperates with news agencies such as AP (United States), Reuters (Britain), AFP (France), DPA (Germany), EFE (Spain), ANSA (Italy), and XINHUA (People's Republic of China). Anadolu Agency publishes news stories received from the agencies and provides news on Turkey to the foreign agencies. Anadolu Agency is one of the members of "European Alliance of News Agencies". Anadolu Agency led efforts for the creation of the "Alliance of Mediterranean News Agencies". Anadolu Agency helped the establishment of the "Turkish Speaking News Agencies" so that Turkey's voice could be carried to Central Asia and news from the Turkic republics could be carried to the Western media. Anadolu Agency is a founding member of the "Association of Balkan News Agencies" and a member of the "Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies". Anadolu Agency hosted the first "Summit of World News Agencies" in Istanbul between April 15 and 17, 2003. The summit was attended by 113 delegations from 58 countries. In the "Final Declaration", the participants demanded that all legal, technical and psychological obstacles be lifted so that accurate, objective and news stories without comments get published. Having begun its "journey under fire" on April 6, 1920 to convey the real stories of the National Struggle to the people in Anatolia and the whole world, Anadolu Agency will continue to provide honest and fast news as long as the Republic of Turkey exists.
