Independent Journalism Conference from the TGC

The meeting consisted of five sessions: “Freedom of the press and expression in Turkey”, “Digital transformation in journalism”, “The effects of the digitalization of journalism”, “Why is specialization in journalism important?” and “Organization and solidarity in journalism”. A total of 23 journalists, communication academics, and legal experts spoke at the meeting. The opening speeches of the conference were delivered by Turkish Journalists Association President Vahap Munyar and Turkish Philosophical Society President Prof. Dr. İoanna Kuçuradi.

'WE WILL CONTINUE TO EXPLAIN THAT JOURNALISM IS NOT A CRIME'

In his opening speech at the conference, Turkish Journalists Association President Vahap Munyar stated the following:

“Since its establishment on June 10, 1946, the Turkish Journalists Association has worked with an understanding of independent and impartial journalism. We aim for journalists to be able to perform their duties within the framework of legal and ethical principles. We work so that journalists can deliver their news to citizens without obstacles. We do not want there to be any journalists in prison. We do not want the journalist to be seen as a criminal or the news to be seen as a crime. We want freedom of the press and expression to be protected, and for democracy to function with all its institutions and rules. Freedom of the press, which is indispensable for modern democracies, covers the freedom to receive or impart information or ideas without interference by public authorities, according to our constitution. All parties, public and private institutions in the country must defend and respect freedom of the press and expression. Otherwise, all unfair and unlawful interventions against press freedom negatively affect every citizen living in this country and, naturally, democracy itself. Citizens cannot access news. Censorship, self-censorship, publication bans, blocking access to news, suspension of publications, heavy fines, and cuts to official advertisements harm freedom of the press and expression. Verbal and physical violence against journalists and acts of targeting are unfortunately increasing every day. Those who attack our colleagues are rewarded with impunity. Unjust detention and imprisonment prevent journalists from doing their jobs. As the Turkish Journalists Association, we will continue to explain that journalism and news are not crimes, and we will continue to stand in solidarity with our colleagues against all interventions directed at press freedom. We will continue to defend independent journalism.”

İOANNA KUÇURADİ: THE JOURNALIST'S MAIN JOB IS TO ACT AS A MEDIATOR

Sharing her views on journalism and human rights, Turkish Philosophical Society President Prof. Dr. İoanna Kuçuradi said:

“The journalist's main job is to act as a mediator. Institutional autonomy, called press freedom, is extremely important for the press to fulfill its function in this guidance and in many other matters. Just as it is in university autonomy. However, this autonomy is an autonomy demanded for the press to fulfill its own internal purposes. Not for it to engage in whatever propaganda it wants, or for advertising. At the forefront of these internal purposes is helping to protect individuals' right to freedom of opinion, that is, helping individuals to form their own opinions.”

PRESS FREEDOM AND DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION DISCUSSED

Following the opening speeches, the first session on freedom of the press and expression in Turkey was held. The first session was moderated by TGC Secretary General Sibel Güneş. In the session, Prof. Dr. Bertil Emrah Oder (Faculty Member at Koç University Faculty of Law) expressed her views on press freedom in the Constitution, Attorney Gökhan Küçük (Legal Advisor to the Turkish Journalists Association) on rights violations against journalists, and Gürkan Özturan (Media Freedom Monitoring Expert at the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom) on digital censorship.

The second session on digital transformation in journalism was moderated by TGC Board Member Göksel Göksu. Prof. Dr. Süleyman İrvan (Faculty Member at Üsküdar University Faculty of Communication) evaluated new journalism and developments in artificial intelligence. Hakan Güldağ (Executive Board Member of the European Federation of Economic Journalists) explained the changing dynamics of news, and Chantal Ferraro (Google News Lead for the Middle East and Africa) explained the Google News Initiative.

The third session on the effects of the digitalization of journalism was moderated by TGC Deputy Secretary General Nuray Karagöz. Prof. Dr. Ceren Sözeri (Faculty Member at Galatasaray University Faculty of Communication) explained the dependency effect created by digitalization, and Sertuğ Çiçek (General Coordinator of T24 Internet Newspaper) explained “the effects of digitalization in journalism on websites”. Prof. Dr. Yasemin İnceoğlu (Communication Academic) shared ethical problems and solution proposals.

The fourth session, which addressed specialization in journalism, was moderated by TGC Vice President İhsan Yılmaz. Journalist-author Murat Yetkin evaluated the dynamics of political reporting. Pınar Aktaş (News Editor of Milliyet Newspaper) explained gender-equal reporting, Handan Sema Ceylan (News Editor of Ekonomi Gazetesi) explained economic reporting, and Mesude Demir (Health Reporter for Diken website) explained health reporting.

The fifth session, where organization and solidarity in journalism were evaluated, was moderated by TGC Board Member Uğur Güç. Özgür Deniz Kaya (President of the Turkish Journalists Union Istanbul Branch), Turgut Dedeoğlu (General President of DİSK Basın-İş), and Kıvanç El (General President of the Progressive Journalists Association) spoke as speakers in this session. The conference concluded with an evaluation section.