At the Turkic World New Generation Media Workshop organized by Bursa Metropolitan Municipality in cooperation with the Presidency of Communications, the ways to fight together against hate speech and racism produced in all areas of the media in the digital age were discussed.
Bursa Metropolitan Municipality, which has carried out different events in line with this theme throughout the year, as Bursa is the Cultural Capital of the Turkish World in 2022, this time brought the Turkish world together at the New Generation Media Workshop. Organized by the Metropolitan Municipality in cooperation with the Presidency of Communications, the workshop was held at Atatürk Congress and Culture Center. Many journalists and media representatives from different cities of Turkey as well as from different countries of the Turkish world attended the workshop. Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Metropolitan Mayor Alinur Aktaş said that even though they transferred the Cultural Capital of the Turkic World to the city of Shusha in Azerbaijan, they continued the activities that appealed to the geography of the heart. Expressing that the workshop was also an event planned within the scope of the Turkish World Capital of Culture, Chairman Aktaş emphasized that the workshop is important in terms of developing a common language of communication within the Turkish world.
Everyone is interactive now
President Aktaş, who stated that thanks to the rapid development of technological possibilities, the duration of information in circulation has become instantaneous, “Everyone from 7 to 70 has become interactive thanks to the digital media that has entered our lives in recent years. Digital media brings distances closer, enables us to establish new friendships, and contributes to the recognition of our product and values. On the other hand, it is a network where many negative aspects such as making people addicted, cyber bullying incidents, deception, and cyber attacks are questioned and solutions are sought. Therefore; We need to fight together against the threats we are exposed to through new media technologies, from human rights to national security, from digital bullying to hate speech, from terrorist propaganda to systematic disinformation movements, from algorithmic dictatorship to digital fascism.”
common discourse, common action
Expressing that it is very important to use the power of the new generation media correctly and effectively, President Aktaş said, “There is a lot that individuals, institutions and organizations can do in this regard. The disinformation law enacted in this context was a very important step in preventing information pollution and provocation. In the new digital age, we are witnessing that hate speech produced in all areas of the media has begun to have a ground that is taken for granted, which is the social equivalent of hate speech. This is not just our country's problem, it is now a global problem that surrounds the whole world. Tackling this problem is essential. As Turkish states, we must fight together against hate speech and racism. By establishing common platforms, developing common discourse and common action, we must act together. First we must break the prejudices, then we must activate the strategic mind against the language of threat. We are ready for it. We will do our part. We, as Bursa Metropolitan Municipality, are trying to present our institutional contribution to the field of communication with such an organization. Of course, the subject that will be discussed at the workshop is not just 'disinformation, manipulation and hate speech in the media'. At the same time, the future of digital media and internet journalism are also on the agenda of this workshop. I believe that the topics covered in this workshop and the knowledge, experience and experience to be shared will inspire all institutions and organizations operating in the field of media. I hope that the information here will be useful to the public," he said.
Truth struggle
Presidential Communications Director Fahrettin Altun, who participated in the workshop via video conference, reminded that a transformation has been experienced with the innovations brought by the new generation media to the news gathering and production processes, and that at this point, new opportunities and serious challenges have emerged for individuals, societies and countries. Stating that malicious attempts, from disinformation to smear campaigns, can also become widespread, Altun said, “Our duty should always be to fight for the truth. Countries in the Turkish world, especially Turkey, are among the countries most exposed to destructive activities such as disinformation. The rapid spread of disinformation in digital media threatens all societies. Being aware of this, it is important that we develop strong collaborations and partnerships in order to use the opportunities of the new digital age and to fight the threats by clamping together around our common vision, common mission, common language and common cause.
Turkey communication model
Stating that Turkey has a very broad and powerful communication model, from public diplomacy to public relations, from combating disinformation to crisis management, Altun said, “We believe that we can carry the Turkish communication model to our sister countries, to the scale of the Turkic world. We must unite around common goals with a common attitude and discourse. We must fight together against the dangers of the new generation media, especially disinformation. We must reinforce our brotherhood with a common discourse, highlight cooperation in the struggle with the power we derive from our historical codes, act together against all international threats and show the whole world that a more just world is possible. Reinforcing the environment of mutual trust in the Turkish world will ensure that we walk together towards a safer future, and we must combine our knowledge and technologies, share our experiences, and eliminate threats together within the framework of common action plans against those who use digital media as a weapon. We firmly believe that we will overcome the obstacles ahead by making use of the historical and cultural accumulations of the Turkish world. In this context, I must also express that I see the Turkish World New Generation Media Workshop as a very valuable and meaningful step. I hope that the workshop will deepen the unity behind the Turkish states, the rising power of the world, contribute to our cooperation and strengthen the bond between us. I would like to thank everyone who contributed to the program, especially the host Bursa Metropolitan Municipality.
After the opening speeches, the Turkish World New Generation Media Workshop was concluded with two sessions titled 'Combating disinformation and hate speech in the media' and 'Digital Media and Internet Journalism'.
Be the first to comment