Jennifer Hattam
@jenhattam.bsky.social
Freelance journalist in Istanbul covering enviro, social, urban issues + art/culture/food/travel: https://www.jenniferhattam.com
(You may know me as TheTurkishLife on Twitter)
Subscribe to my arts+culture newsletter: https://istanbuletcetera.substack.com
(You may know me as TheTurkishLife on Twitter)
Subscribe to my arts+culture newsletter: https://istanbuletcetera.substack.com
Pinned
Jennifer Hattam
Freelance journalist in Istanbul covering culture, environment, social issues, and urban spaces
www.jenniferhattam.com
📣 I'm actively looking for new journalism assignments, writing or editing gigs, or other work that uses my communications skills, ideally to make positive social, cultural, or environmental impact. Check out what I do and hit me up if you have projects that might be a match! www.jenniferhattam.com
Reposted by Jennifer Hattam
MPR News photojournalist Kerem Yücel was hit by less-lethal munition during the operation in St. Paul today. Other photojournalists were hit as well.
More on what unfolded at the chaotic scene: www.mprnews.org/story/2025/1...
More on what unfolded at the chaotic scene: www.mprnews.org/story/2025/1...
November 25, 2025 at 11:29 PM
MPR News photojournalist Kerem Yücel was hit by less-lethal munition during the operation in St. Paul today. Other photojournalists were hit as well.
More on what unfolded at the chaotic scene: www.mprnews.org/story/2025/1...
More on what unfolded at the chaotic scene: www.mprnews.org/story/2025/1...
Reposted by Jennifer Hattam
Infuriating to see reporters attacked. Here's @mpr.org photojournalist Kerem Yücel on a gurney in an ambulance. Caption: came "in contact with tear gas" and was hit with a projectile.
Translation: cops/agents sprayed @keremyucel.bsky.social with OC and shot him with a less lethal. 📸:Leila Navidi
Translation: cops/agents sprayed @keremyucel.bsky.social with OC and shot him with a less lethal. 📸:Leila Navidi
November 25, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Infuriating to see reporters attacked. Here's @mpr.org photojournalist Kerem Yücel on a gurney in an ambulance. Caption: came "in contact with tear gas" and was hit with a projectile.
Translation: cops/agents sprayed @keremyucel.bsky.social with OC and shot him with a less lethal. 📸:Leila Navidi
Translation: cops/agents sprayed @keremyucel.bsky.social with OC and shot him with a less lethal. 📸:Leila Navidi
Geçmiş olsun to Kerem Yücel, a great photojournalist (and lovely person) from Turkey now working in the US, where he was injured by police this week while covering anti-ICE protests in his new home state of Minnesota.
Photos from St. Paul today captured by MPR photojournalist Kerem Yücel. He filed them even after being hospitalized after being injured by a less lethal munition.
November 26, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Geçmiş olsun to Kerem Yücel, a great photojournalist (and lovely person) from Turkey now working in the US, where he was injured by police this week while covering anti-ICE protests in his new home state of Minnesota.
Reposted by Jennifer Hattam
With Forbes warning the Gen AI bubble bursting will wipe $40 trillion off global markets, I wrote about the foundational lies the industry tells about the usefulness, durability, accuracy and - yes - intelligence of its products
All of which are weapons-grade horseshit
medium.com/@patchgaley/...
All of which are weapons-grade horseshit
medium.com/@patchgaley/...
The Secret Lies of AI
I recently listened to an excellent podcast from the team at QAA, investigating a phenomenon that is both at once very new and extremely…
medium.com
October 16, 2025 at 11:12 AM
With Forbes warning the Gen AI bubble bursting will wipe $40 trillion off global markets, I wrote about the foundational lies the industry tells about the usefulness, durability, accuracy and - yes - intelligence of its products
All of which are weapons-grade horseshit
medium.com/@patchgaley/...
All of which are weapons-grade horseshit
medium.com/@patchgaley/...
More of this from media/publishing companies please 👏👏👏
November 10, 2025 at 8:14 AM
More of this from media/publishing companies please 👏👏👏
What sets A Cloud in My Hand apart is the way it tries to to create a sense of dialogue between the viewers and Palestinian artists. Last week to see this powerful exhibition in Istanbul: istanbuletcetera.substack.com/p/gaza-bienn...
Gaza Biennale: The Istanbul Pavilion
Dialogue is at the heart of 'A Cloud in My Hand,' the Istanbul iteration of a global showcase of Palestinian artists that runs through 8 November.
istanbuletcetera.substack.com
November 5, 2025 at 8:58 AM
What sets A Cloud in My Hand apart is the way it tries to to create a sense of dialogue between the viewers and Palestinian artists. Last week to see this powerful exhibition in Istanbul: istanbuletcetera.substack.com/p/gaza-bienn...
Reposted by Jennifer Hattam
Punk Builds a Greener Future
A worldwide but borderless DIY culture rejects consumerism and embraces reuse — and focuses on mutual aid. https://therevelator.org/punk-builds-greener-future/
A worldwide but borderless DIY culture rejects consumerism and embraces reuse — and focuses on mutual aid. https://therevelator.org/punk-builds-greener-future/
Punk Builds a Greener Future • The Revelator
A worldwide but borderless DIY culture rejects consumerism and embraces reuse — and focuses on mutual aid.
therevelator.org
October 14, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Punk Builds a Greener Future
A worldwide but borderless DIY culture rejects consumerism and embraces reuse — and focuses on mutual aid. https://therevelator.org/punk-builds-greener-future/
A worldwide but borderless DIY culture rejects consumerism and embraces reuse — and focuses on mutual aid. https://therevelator.org/punk-builds-greener-future/
Art shows to catch this weekend plus what's coming up on stage in the worlds of ballet, opera, and theater in this week's İstanbul etc. cultural roundup newsletter. Subscribe to get it in your inbox when the news is hot: istanbuletcetera.substack.com/p/whats-on-m...
What's on: Mining memory, theater season, weekend picks, and more
A biweekly roundup of art exhibitions, cultural events, and arts and culture news in Istanbul and elsewhere in Turkey.
istanbuletcetera.substack.com
October 25, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Art shows to catch this weekend plus what's coming up on stage in the worlds of ballet, opera, and theater in this week's İstanbul etc. cultural roundup newsletter. Subscribe to get it in your inbox when the news is hot: istanbuletcetera.substack.com/p/whats-on-m...
Reposted by Jennifer Hattam
"Today’s emotion is rage," says Florence while prepping for a drag show.
'Rage' because last week news broke about an anti-LGBTQ draft law that would penalize expressions of queerness.
Johanna Sagmeister reports with comments by @yildiztar.bsky.social:
'Rage' because last week news broke about an anti-LGBTQ draft law that would penalize expressions of queerness.
Johanna Sagmeister reports with comments by @yildiztar.bsky.social:
'My existence will be illegal': LGBTQ community vilified by Turkish draft law
ISTANBUL — When Florence Konstantina Delight talks about their childhood, the stories are primarily about bullying, abuse and hatred.
www.turkeyrecap.com
October 21, 2025 at 3:13 PM
"Today’s emotion is rage," says Florence while prepping for a drag show.
'Rage' because last week news broke about an anti-LGBTQ draft law that would penalize expressions of queerness.
Johanna Sagmeister reports with comments by @yildiztar.bsky.social:
'Rage' because last week news broke about an anti-LGBTQ draft law that would penalize expressions of queerness.
Johanna Sagmeister reports with comments by @yildiztar.bsky.social:
Reposted by Jennifer Hattam
FMA joins other press and freedom of expression organisations in calling on Turkish authorities to remove a reported anti-LGBTQ+ provision from the 11th Judicial Package that would restrict and possibly criminalise media reporting on the community. #pressfreedom
#Turkey: A draft law, soon to be submitted to the Parliament, includes a provision to restrict and possibly criminalise the reporting on LGBTQ+ community. If enacted, journalists face up to three years imprisonment. We call for the withdrawal of this provision. @tgs.org.tr
Turkey: Journalists reporting LGBTQ+ issues risk criminalisation
The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joined the undersigned organisations in calling for the removal of the reported anti-LGBTQ+ provision from ...
europeanjournalists.org
October 22, 2025 at 2:44 PM
FMA joins other press and freedom of expression organisations in calling on Turkish authorities to remove a reported anti-LGBTQ+ provision from the 11th Judicial Package that would restrict and possibly criminalise media reporting on the community. #pressfreedom
Reposted by Jennifer Hattam
IPI strongly condemns the fatal attack on journalist Hakan Tosun. We demand a thorough and transparent investigation to bring all perpetrators to justice.
Read our statement: buff.ly/q7TKzZX
Read our statement: buff.ly/q7TKzZX
October 15, 2025 at 11:52 AM
IPI strongly condemns the fatal attack on journalist Hakan Tosun. We demand a thorough and transparent investigation to bring all perpetrators to justice.
Read our statement: buff.ly/q7TKzZX
Read our statement: buff.ly/q7TKzZX
"The biggest threat may not be that government surveillance cameras and license plate readers track and watch us, but how easily we get used to being watched & tracked...
By ignoring smaller surveillance-related privacy erosions, the law is teaching us to accept them."
www.axios.com/local/seattl...
By ignoring smaller surveillance-related privacy erosions, the law is teaching us to accept them."
www.axios.com/local/seattl...
How everyday tech is training us to accept constant surveillance
By ignoring small tech intrusions, society lowers the bar for what counts as privacy.
www.axios.com
October 15, 2025 at 2:06 PM
"The biggest threat may not be that government surveillance cameras and license plate readers track and watch us, but how easily we get used to being watched & tracked...
By ignoring smaller surveillance-related privacy erosions, the law is teaching us to accept them."
www.axios.com/local/seattl...
By ignoring smaller surveillance-related privacy erosions, the law is teaching us to accept them."
www.axios.com/local/seattl...
Reposted by Jennifer Hattam
For Halloween this year I’m going to be a shirt button so I can continue hanging on by a thread
October 15, 2025 at 1:51 PM
For Halloween this year I’m going to be a shirt button so I can continue hanging on by a thread
US revokes six foreigners’ visas over social media comments criticizing Charlie Kirk www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
US revokes six foreigners’ visas over social media comments criticizing Charlie Kirk
State department says it has ‘no obligation’ to host foreign nationals who ‘celebrate heinous’ death of far-right activist
www.theguardian.com
October 15, 2025 at 7:13 AM
US revokes six foreigners’ visas over social media comments criticizing Charlie Kirk www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Reposted by Jennifer Hattam
‘After the reading, the poets hold each other’: what happens when Ukraine’s largest literary festival comes under Russian attack
‘After the reading, the poets hold each other’: what happens when Ukraine’s largest literary festival comes under Russian attack
Fiona Benson was invited to Lviv’s BookForum by Ukrainian poet-soldier Artur Dron’. She recounts falling in love with the city and its thriving literary culture, before an air raid siren sounds
www.theguardian.com
October 13, 2025 at 4:13 PM
‘After the reading, the poets hold each other’: what happens when Ukraine’s largest literary festival comes under Russian attack
Reposted by Jennifer Hattam
Turkey recap consistently does some of the best English-language reporting on Turkey I've seen.
Their weekly news overviews, article digests, in-depth investigative pieces, and podcasts are super useful.
Glad to see this Turkish-language initiative with @studyorecap.bsky.social - hayırlı olsun!
Their weekly news overviews, article digests, in-depth investigative pieces, and podcasts are super useful.
Glad to see this Turkish-language initiative with @studyorecap.bsky.social - hayırlı olsun!
Since 2019, @turkeyrecap.bsky.social has brought clear, credible news from Ankara to readers in more than 107 countries.
By launching @studyorecap.bsky.social, we’re doing the same with Turkish politics for Turkish-language audiences.
By launching @studyorecap.bsky.social, we’re doing the same with Turkish politics for Turkish-language audiences.
Letter from the editor: This is what we do
Turkey recap turns six
www.turkeyrecap.com
October 14, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Turkey recap consistently does some of the best English-language reporting on Turkey I've seen.
Their weekly news overviews, article digests, in-depth investigative pieces, and podcasts are super useful.
Glad to see this Turkish-language initiative with @studyorecap.bsky.social - hayırlı olsun!
Their weekly news overviews, article digests, in-depth investigative pieces, and podcasts are super useful.
Glad to see this Turkish-language initiative with @studyorecap.bsky.social - hayırlı olsun!
Reposted by Jennifer Hattam
1/6
THREAD: Remembering Hakan Tosun
We are deeply saddened by the death of Hakan Tosun journalist & documentary filmmaker, found brutally beaten on a roadside in Istanbul.
He was missing for days before being discovered with severe injuries. He died in hospital.
Read On 🧵⬇️
THREAD: Remembering Hakan Tosun
We are deeply saddened by the death of Hakan Tosun journalist & documentary filmmaker, found brutally beaten on a roadside in Istanbul.
He was missing for days before being discovered with severe injuries. He died in hospital.
Read On 🧵⬇️
October 14, 2025 at 4:21 AM
1/6
THREAD: Remembering Hakan Tosun
We are deeply saddened by the death of Hakan Tosun journalist & documentary filmmaker, found brutally beaten on a roadside in Istanbul.
He was missing for days before being discovered with severe injuries. He died in hospital.
Read On 🧵⬇️
THREAD: Remembering Hakan Tosun
We are deeply saddened by the death of Hakan Tosun journalist & documentary filmmaker, found brutally beaten on a roadside in Istanbul.
He was missing for days before being discovered with severe injuries. He died in hospital.
Read On 🧵⬇️
Reposted by Jennifer Hattam
Yes, if only America was more like general Sisi’s Egypt.
Trump on Egypt: "They have very little crime. Because they don't play games. That's why. Like we do in the United States with governors that have no idea what they're doing."
October 13, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Yes, if only America was more like general Sisi’s Egypt.
Ceramics that fire the imagination, reasons to go back to the cinema, and much more on the arts and culture agenda in my latest Istanbul etc newsletter. Subscribe to get it in your inbox so you don't miss out: istanbuletcetera.substack.com/p/whats-on-c...
What's on: Creative ceramics, films galore, and more
A biweekly roundup of art exhibitions, cultural events, and arts and culture news in Istanbul and elsewhere in Turkey.
istanbuletcetera.substack.com
October 11, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Ceramics that fire the imagination, reasons to go back to the cinema, and much more on the arts and culture agenda in my latest Istanbul etc newsletter. Subscribe to get it in your inbox so you don't miss out: istanbuletcetera.substack.com/p/whats-on-c...
From brutalist bus stops to fashion icons, traditional street photography to alternative processes, there’s a little bit of everything at the 212 Photography Istanbul festival, which runs through 12 October. Read more in my latest newsletter: istanbuletcetera.substack.com/p/212-photog...
212 Photography Istanbul: A Visitor's Guide
What to see and where in the latest edition of the annual festival of photography and more
istanbuletcetera.substack.com
October 9, 2025 at 10:20 AM
From brutalist bus stops to fashion icons, traditional street photography to alternative processes, there’s a little bit of everything at the 212 Photography Istanbul festival, which runs through 12 October. Read more in my latest newsletter: istanbuletcetera.substack.com/p/212-photog...
Reposted by Jennifer Hattam
There is no single way to resist; only the courage to invent one. 👍
October 9, 2025 at 4:44 AM
There is no single way to resist; only the courage to invent one. 👍
Reposted by Jennifer Hattam
It’s boiling in October because you’re using ChatGPT to write your emails, Janice.
October 6, 2025 at 11:06 PM
It’s boiling in October because you’re using ChatGPT to write your emails, Janice.
Reposted by Jennifer Hattam
I am once again asking us all to recognize that the Luddites were not anti-technology but anti-exploitation. If they were around today they would have joined you in a call for technology that serves everyone’s, not just the bosses.
You *are* a Luddite Bernie, and you should be proud to be one
You *are* a Luddite Bernie, and you should be proud to be one
Can AI and robotics help us in many ways? I am not a Luddite — I believe they can.
But we must make sure these new technologies benefit all of us, not just a handful of billionaires.
I hope you'll take a few minutes to read my op-ed in Fox News. Let’s start the debate.
But we must make sure these new technologies benefit all of us, not just a handful of billionaires.
I hope you'll take a few minutes to read my op-ed in Fox News. Let’s start the debate.
SEN SANDERS: AI must benefit everyone, not just a handful of billionaires
Billionaires like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos invest billions in AI and robotics that could eliminate millions of jobs while increasing corporate profits at workers' expense.
www.foxnews.com
October 6, 2025 at 5:46 PM
I am once again asking us all to recognize that the Luddites were not anti-technology but anti-exploitation. If they were around today they would have joined you in a call for technology that serves everyone’s, not just the bosses.
You *are* a Luddite Bernie, and you should be proud to be one
You *are* a Luddite Bernie, and you should be proud to be one
Freelancers: Here is my carefully crafted pitch on a story I've researched well and am excited to write about 🙏 (Plus I really need a paycheck.)
Editors:
Editors:
October 6, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Freelancers: Here is my carefully crafted pitch on a story I've researched well and am excited to write about 🙏 (Plus I really need a paycheck.)
Editors:
Editors:
Can art can help keep the spirit of protests alive? In my latest article for @hyperallergic.com, I spoke with artist and academic Işıl Eğrikavuk, author of a timely book on how participatory art practices can be used to build connections and foster social dialogue in restrictive political climates.
“How can we take these collaborative, spontaneous, anonymous, witty, performative qualities expressed organically during the protests and apply them in an artistic setting to re-create this interconnectedness amid a heavily censored environment?” —artist and academic Işıl Eğrikavuk
Is Political Protest a Collaborative Art Form?
Hyperallergic speaks to artist and academic Işıl Eğrikavuk about whether art can help keep the spirit of protests alive.
hyperallergic.com
October 6, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Can art can help keep the spirit of protests alive? In my latest article for @hyperallergic.com, I spoke with artist and academic Işıl Eğrikavuk, author of a timely book on how participatory art practices can be used to build connections and foster social dialogue in restrictive political climates.