Bilgin Sasmaz

Background

About Bilgin Sasmaz

Bilgin graduated from Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Fine Arts in 1997 with a degree as a Movie Director. The following year he returned to his native Turkey where he embarked on a journalism career when he was hired as a news coordinator with a local Turkish newspaper, Korfezde Olay, in Balikesir. A year later, he began compulsory service in the Turkish Air Force as a reserve officer. Upon completion, he returned to journalism and joined the Ihlas News Agency in There he served as a correspondent and was handed international assignments in 30 nations. He was also a war correspondent in Iraq in 2004 and in Palestine, covering the ongoing Israeli-Palestine conflict. Bilgin joined The Anadolu Agency (AA) in 2007, one of the world’s largest and preeminent news organizations. Initially based in AA’s headquarters office in Ankara, Turkey, he traveled to more than 30 countries while accompanying dignitaries and senior Turkish officials during their overseas missions. He transferred to AA’s New York City office in 2011, where he has covered U.S. national news, including the Boston Marathon bombings; Moore, Oklahoma tornado; West, Texas, fertilizer plant explosion and the protests in Ferguson, Missouri. Bilgin’s pictures, videos and news reports have been published and broadcast in some of the world's most respected and prestigious media outlets. He is married and he has a son.