Worse than lapdog media: While Turkey burns, CNN Turk serves up penguins

Brett T. | 9:54 PM on June 04, 2013

As Turkish citizens continue to clash with the police in protests against Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and his Islamist-rooted Justice and Development Party, Twitter has become the place to turn for dramatic Vine videos and photos depicting attacks on crowds with water cannons and tear gas canisters. Where can besieged protesters turn to get away from it all? CNN-Turk, apparently, which surprised the nation by providing coverage not of Turkey, but of penguins.

From last night: While Istanbul burned, CNN-Turk played this penguin documentary http://t.co/8xOADUC23z pic.twitter.com/R3uio7ZOJ5

— The Daily Dot (@dailydot) June 3, 2013

Messages that @CNN in turkey is airing a documentary on penguins as police use extreme violence & chemicals against its citizens.@cnnbrk

— Philip Jennings (@PJenningsUNI) June 1, 2013

@July__can well the world now knows that mighty @CNN turkey is broadcasting a show on penguins.

— Philip Jennings (@PJenningsUNI) June 1, 2013

https://twitter.com/Ani0978/status/341312826486423552

Why does @CNN @cnnbrk int. show live coverage of the protests in Turkey,while CNNTürk show a documentary on Penguins? pic.twitter.com/KMALr6SoL7

— Burak Yeter (@BURAKYETER) June 3, 2013

https://twitter.com/Slowlybyslowly/status/342074087193071617

Added target of #Turkey protesters' anger: Turkish news media. http://t.co/6XKcWldWx6 #penguins

— Jim Roberts (@nycjim) June 4, 2013

Reuters reports that protesters took out their frustration on at least one broadcasting van, tipping it over and spray painting “government crony media for sale” and “Where were you yesterday?” on the hood and side panel. A petition on Change.org demands that CNN pull its name from the channel or risk tarnishing its brand. Others, meanwhile, have adopted the penguin as a symbol of their movement.