Coşkun Aral (1 May 1956, Siirt) is a journalist, war correspondent, photographer and producer. He began his career in photography in 1974 and gained international recognition in 1977 for the images he captured during the May 1 events. In addition to photojournalism he has worked as a war correspondent contributed to various documentary projects and produced television programs.

YOUTH AND EDUCATION

Coşkun Aral was born in Siirt on 1 May 1956. He completed his education at 14 May Primary School Gazi Middle School and Mecidiyeköy High School. His interest in journalism began in childhood and he decided to pursue it as a profession during his high school years.

CAREER AND ACHIEVEMENTS

He began his journalism career in 1974 as a press photographer for Günaydın and Day newspapers. In 1976 he continued working at Ekonomi ve Politics newspaper. The photographs he took during the May 1 events of 1977 were published in Time and Newsweek magazines and this brought him international recognition. He then began working under the Sipa Press Agency. He worked as a freelance photo correspondent for Milliyet and Hürriyet newspapers.

In 1980 he was assigned abroad for the first time on behalf of Sipa Press covering the Gdańsk Strike. That same year his archival work on the 12 September coup appeared on the covers of international magazines Newsweek and L’Express. In 14 October 1980 he drew attention by interviewing hijackers aboard a kidnapped aircraft.

From the 1980s onward he served as a photo correspondent in war zones including the Middle East Northern Ireland Afghanistan Chad and the Far East. He contributed to magazines such as Time Newsweek Paris-Match Stern and Epoca.

Starting in 1986 he shifted toward television journalism alongside his photojournalism. He began reporting on wars for Mehmet Ali Birand’s program “32. Gün”. Later he took on the production and management of the “Haberci” program.

In 2006 he founded İZ TV one of Türkiye’s first documentary channels. In 2007 he won an award in the documentary category at the Hot Bird TV Awards held in channel and Europe. In 2018 he launched the channel “Coşkun Aral Anlatıyor”.

Kidnapped Aircraft 1980 – Coşkun Aral

NOTABLE WORKS AND CONTRIBUTIONS

Aral has also undertaken various documentary projects. He produced documentary series such as “Haberci” “World Günlüğü” “Savaşın Tanıkları” and “Türkiye Notları”. He also created several documentary films including “Anatolia Aslanı: Kangal” and “Pamir’den Van’a Özgürlüğün Nal Sesleri”.

His photography and documentary exhibitions have been displayed in various parts of the world. His refugee-themed exhibition titled “Exodus” was shown in Kuala Lumpur in 2016 in Ankara and Istanbul in 2017 and in Bangkok in 2018.

Afghanistan 1983–1996 I fear darkness. Does a war correspondent fear darkness? Yes he does. A few people illuminated by a sliver of moonlight calm my fear. (Coşkun Aral)

PERSONAL LIFE

Coşkun Aral married Müge Aral in 2002 and has a daughter named Sea. He combined his interest in food with his book “Annemin Yemekleri” and conducted studies on culinary culture on.

PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITIONS

• His war photographs taken between 1983 and 1985 were exhibited at FNAC in Paris.
• His war photographs from 1983 to 1985 were exhibited at the Time Life Gallery in New York.
• In 1988 he held a joint exhibition with Ara Güler in Denmark and Finland.
• In 1993 he curated an exhibition titled “War and Humanity” at the Foreigners Culture Center in Düsseldorf Germany.
• In February 2001 a photo exhibition on war was held at the Foreigners Culture Center of the Ministry of Culture in Vienna.
• In 2008 one of his photographs selected by Le Figaro magazine was included among the most defining images of the last 30 years and exhibited at the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris.

FILMOGRAPHY

• Haberci (a documentary series of 190 episodes each 45 minutes long)
• Global Vision and Go East Go West (producer of documentaries broadcast in Germany)
• Savaşın Tanıkları (a documentary series of 4 episodes each 50 minutes long)
• Türkiye Notları (a documentary series of 4 episodes each 50 minutes long)
• Abidin Dino Portresi (biographical documentary)
• Pamir’den Van’a Özgürlüğün Nal Sesleri (documentary film)
• Anadolu Aslanı: Kangal (documentary film)
• Sonsuz Mavilikler Ülkesi Bodrum (documentary film)
• Dünya Güncesi (a documentary series of 40-minute episodes still airing on İZ TV)
• Türkiye Notları (a documentary series of 40-minute episodes still airing on İZ TV)
• Haberci İz Peşinde (a 13-episode documentary series of 30-minute episodes broadcast on TRT TÜRK)
• Ülke Rehberi (a 52-episode country guide series of 4-minute episodes broadcast on TRT TÜRK)
• İstanbul’a Dokun (Türkiye’s first 3D documentary film on İZ TV)

BOOKS

• In 1983 he co-authored the war photography album “Galile’de Barış” with four other war photographers including Reza of National Geographic and Yan Morvan. Published by Edition de Miniut this book on the Lebanese war was later printed in Germany and Algeria.
• He was featured in the book “War Torn” published by Pantheon in New York which showcases the 31 best war photographers of the era.
• In 1988 the adventure photography album “Türkiye: Bin Millik Büyük Serüven” was published.
• In 1995 two books were published in the United States by Fielding Worldwide: “Savaş Tehlikeli Işık” and “Dünyanın En Tehlikeli Yerleri”.
• In July 2000 the photo album “Sözün Bittiği Yer” was published featuring his work during his years as a war photographer. The album includes nearly all the wars that have taken place around the world over the past 20 years.
• In 2003 Alkım Yayınları published his memoir “Ölümün Yakasında İliştirilmiş Hayatlar” compiling his memories of war.
• In 2010 with sponsorship from Hotpoint – Ariston and proceeds benefiting TEV he published the book “Annemin Yemekleri” featuring traditional recipes.
• In 2015 he co-authored the documentary book “Biz Kültür Yolcuları” with Nebil Özgentürk and Can Dündar which was published together with a DVD.

AWARDS

• 1980–81 Turkish Journalists Association Achievement Awards Photography Category
• 1984 Nokta Magazine Doruktakiler Award
• 1996 Magazine Journalists Association “Achievement Award”
• 1996 Radio and Television Journalists Association “Cengiz Polatkan Award”
• 1997–99 Istanbul University Faculty of Communication “Best Documentary Award”
• 1998 Contemporary Journalists Association “Most Successful TV Program Award”
• 1998 Turkish Journalists Association Achievement Awards Documentary Category
• 1998 Sedat Simavi Awards “Best Documentary Award”
• 1998–99 Marmara University Faculty of Communication “Best Documentary Award”
• 2001 Gazi University Faculty of Communication “Best TV Program Respectful of Children’s Rights”
• 2005 Contemporary Journalists Association Mahmut Tali Öngören TV Program Award
• 2012 ODTÜ Distinguished Service Award
• 2019 Süleyman Demirel University Honorary Doctorate
• 2023 Altın Safran Documentary Film Festival Documentary Cinema Lifetime Achievement Award
• 2023 Photo Correspondents Association Lifetime Honor Award