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Jennifer Hattam

@jenhattam.bsky.social

2K followers 560 following 310 posts

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

www.jenniferhattam.com

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Jennifer Hattam @jenhattam.bsky.social · Apr 8

📣 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

Jennifer Hattam

Freelance journalist in Istanbul covering culture, environment, social issues, and urban spaces

www.jenniferhattam.com

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Alexa Ray Corriea @alexaray.bsky.social · 2d

It’s boiling in October because you’re using ChatGPT to write your emails, Janice.

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Brian Merchant @bcmerchant.bsky.social · 2d

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

Senator Bernie Sanders @sanders.senate.gov · 2d

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.

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

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Jennifer Hattam @jenhattam.bsky.social · 2d

💯

Jennifer Hattam @jenhattam.bsky.social · 2d

☹️ I haven't left Istanbul since I last saw you so I know the feeling

Jennifer Hattam @jenhattam.bsky.social · 2d

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:

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Jennifer Hattam @jenhattam.bsky.social · 2d

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.

Hyperallergic @hyperallergic.com · 4d

“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

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Christy Quirk @cequirk.bsky.social · 2d

Sorry to hear the bus stop photos presentation was subpar, but what a list of exhibits! The best thing about art-seeing in Istanbul is the venues, which are often better than the art. @jenhattam.bsky.social is making me want to buy a plane ticket. open.substack.com/pub/istanbul...

212 Photography Istanbul: A Visitor's Guide

What to see and where in the latest edition of the annual festival of photography and more

open.substack.com

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Jennifer Hattam @jenhattam.bsky.social · 2d

Do it do it do it do it do it ✈️

Jennifer Hattam @jenhattam.bsky.social · 2d

I let my links throw the shade for me 😅

Reposted by Jennifer Hattam

Clément Plaisant @cplaisant.bsky.social · 5d

""With these defections, the AKP is also trying to give the impression that the party is still popular, since these mayors are leaving the CHP to join it. But the AKP's popularity has been steadily declining since 2015," @sinemadar.bsky.social told AFP"
www.rfi.fr/en/internati...

'Defect or be jailed': Turkey opposition mayors face new threat

Turkish opposition leaders say the government has found a new way to silence dissent: pressuring its mayors and local officials to defect to the ruling party.

www.rfi.fr

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Jennifer Hattam @jenhattam.bsky.social · 4d

Shocker! 😱

Reposted by Jennifer Hattam

Human Rights Watch @hrw.org · 7d

The Taliban’s internet shutdowns are inflicting serious harm on people’s rights and livelihoods throughout Afghanistan.

The shutdowns, which began in mid-September 2025, have impeded access to education, commerce, media, and healthcare services.

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Turkey recap @turkeyrecap.bsky.social · 7d

🚨 New project alert!

Introducing @studyorecap.bsky.social, a multimedia news platform on all things Turkish politics in Türkçe.

The team includes long-time parliamentary reporters Ceren Bayar and Yıldız Yazıcıoğlu + Günsu Durak and Demet Şöhret.

Subscribe for daily coverage straight from Ankara:

Stüdyo recap @studyorecap.bsky.social · 7d

Stüdyo recap’ten herkese merhaba, bu bizim yenilenen ismimiz ve ekibimizle yayımladığımız ilk bültenimiz ve çok heyecanlıyız!

İlk bültenimizde, gözlerimizi bugün açılacak Meclis’e çeviriyoruz.

Bülteni okumak ve abone olmak için👇🏽:
turkeyrecapturkce.substack.com/p/studyo-rec...

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Asha Rangappa @asharangappa.bsky.social · 8d

I can’t believe I’m watching interviews of city mayors talking about how they are coordinating with other mayors to discuss how to protect their residents FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

I know we are “used to it” but it is absolutely insane

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Anne Applebaum @anneapplebaum.bsky.social · 11d

"Living through the rise of a dictatorship just means inhabiting a space that is gradually shrinking. There’s no point in resisting, not at first. You just make do with whatever breathing room you still have—until you lose that too."
Read Gisela Salim-Peyer:
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...

Authoritarianism Feels Surprisingly Normal—Until It Doesn’t

Life in Venezuela was deceptively mundane. Then everything collapsed.

www.theatlantic.com

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Turkey recap @turkeyrecap.bsky.social · 10d

"Creativity amid crisis in Istanbul" by @jenhattam.bsky.social. [5/5]

Creativity amid crisis in Istanbul

Roiled by economic and political turmoil but buoyed by a recast biennial, the Turkish art world is eager to demonstrate its resilience to the world

www.artbasel.com

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Anna Merlan @annamerlan.bsky.social · 12d

Anyway, learning another language is good for you because you die a thousand deaths of embarrassment and then you come out more humble and even more aware of your various human failings

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Paul T. Levin @paultlevin.bsky.social · 12d

If this is what they say in public, one wonders what they say behind closed doors.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 13d

Trump to Erdogan: "He knows about rigged elections better than anybody. But when I was in exile, we were still friends."

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Durrie Bouscaren @durriethekid.bsky.social · 17d

English translation of a Haaretz article, asking Israelis why they don't see the parallels between starvation in Gaza and the Holocaust:

robertreich.substack.com/p/a-betrayal...

A betrayal of the victims of the Holocaust

A view from Israel

robertreich.substack.com

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Clément Plaisant @cplaisant.bsky.social · 16d

"The “Youthall Youth Expectations and Trends Survey” paints a grim picture: while [Turkish] graduates once looked forward to independence, today nearly 77% of young adults live with their parents, unable to afford rent or basic living costs"
www.paturkey.com/news/2025/tr...

Trapped at Home: 77% of Turkish Graduates Still Live With Parents - P.A. Turkey

A new report by Youthall has revealed just how hard soaring inflation and economic hardship have hit Turkey’s young people. The “Youthall Youth Expectations and Trends Survey” paints a grim picture: w...

www.paturkey.com

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Jennifer Hattam @jenhattam.bsky.social · 16d

Creativity amid crisis in Istanbul: Roiled by economic and political turmoil but buoyed by a recast biennial, the Turkish art world is eager to demonstrate its resilience to the world - my new look at Istanbul's art scene for Art Basel:
artbasel.com/stories/ista...

Creativity amid crisis in Istanbul

Roiled by economic and political turmoil but buoyed by a recast biennial, the Turkish art world is eager to demonstrate its resilience to the world

artbasel.com

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Jennifer Hattam @jenhattam.bsky.social · 20d

The 18th Istanbul Biennial opens to the public on Saturday! Sign up for my newsletter to get a visiting guide in your inbox this week: istanbuletcetera.substack.com

Reposted by Jennifer Hattam

Pam Mandel @nerdseyeview.bsky.social · 21d

spent too much time thinking about this. realized i live in the pnw and minutes from my house i can get tacos, pad thai, pho, injera, biriyani, felafel... there's a french bakery, and a lot of stuff grows here. n. america gets a bad rap, but it's hella international here. gimme H, we have it all.

Brilliant Maps @brilliantmaps.bsky.social · 22d

For the rest of your life, you can only eat food from one of these regions. Which do you choose?

For more maps: brilliantmaps.beehiiv.com/s...

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Jennifer Hattam @jenhattam.bsky.social · 21d

In 2019, I wrote for Deutsche Welle about his work and that of others who are risking prosecution to bring attention to public health risks in Turkey: www.dw.com/en/turkey-ce...

Censorship fogging up pollution researchers' work – DW – 09/17/2019

In Turkey, rapid urbanization and poor pollution control are impacting public health, according to researchers. They say the government is fully aware, and is punishing experts who've tried to warn th...

www.dw.com

Jennifer Hattam @jenhattam.bsky.social · 21d

Belated congratulations to scientist Bülent Şık @bulentilgaz.bsky.social for being named this year's #HrantDinkAward laureate by the @hrantdinkfnd.bsky.social for work that "tirelessly reminds us that scientific data is inseparable from social responsibility". hrantdink.org/en/internati...

2025 Laureate Bülent Şık

2025 International Hrant Dink Award laureate Bülent Şık, providing public access to vital information by sharing about technical issues such as food safety in a clear and concise way and prioritising ...

hrantdink.org

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