Journalists and students from Turkey and Greece convened in Istanbul for the second meeting of the Turkey - Greece Journalists Platform, organized by MLSA in this event witih a focus on peace journalism
The Turkey-Greece Journalists Platform, organized by the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA), brought together journalists and journalism students from both countries for its second meeting.
The event, held in Istanbul 29 November - 1 December 2024 is a continuation of the first meeting of the platform held in November 2023. The program seeks to foster journalism's contributions to fair and balanced reporting to improve bilateral relations.
Participants in the program included representatives from Sendika.org, Panteion University Media Department, NTV, ATV, BBC Türkçe, the Peace Journalism Lab of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, the Foreign Press Association of Greece, Yaşar University, Gazete Duvar, and the Athens News Agency. Seven Greek and six Turkish participants, alongside their instructors, engaged in intensive discussions and workshops focusing on peace journalism and media challenges.
Day 1: Exploring peace journalism
The event started with a keynote by Sevda Alankuş, Dean, Faculty of Communication at Yaşar University, who explored the history of Turkish-Greek relations as reflected in the media, citing pivotal events such as the Kardak crisis and the 1999 Turkey earthquake. Alankuş also presented findings from her recent study on female journalists in Turkish and Greek media (2019-2022), addressing how androcentric newsroom practices influence journalism and whether women could bring transformative change to the media landscape.
In a discussion on peace journalism, Alankuş outlined its principles, comparing them to war journalism. She highlighted that peace journalism prioritizes truth and mutual understanding, contrasting with the zero-sum, propaganda-driven framework of war journalism. Participants debated the potential of women journalists to foster peace-oriented reporting.
Subsequent sessions saw discussions on media landscapes in Turkey and Greece, focusing on state-imposed red lines, self-censorship, and institutional challenges. Participants noted similarities in the pressures journalists face in both countries, including diminishing trust in media, financial struggles, and the prevalence of SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) cases.
Day 2: Media ownership and digital challenges
Ceren Sözeri, Associate Professor at Galatasaray University communications department and a media colummnist for Evrensel newspaper, presented an analysis of Turkish media ownership, highlighting its transformation since 2007. She discussed the increasing presence of "shadow owners" and the impact of government-affiliated ownership on journalistic independence. Greek journalist Giorgos Christides provided a parallel view, noting how a few media owners dominate traditional media in Greece, often prioritizing political and economic agendas over journalistic integrity.
Discussions on these sessions extended to the influence of social media and "news influencers." Participants debated the benefits and risks of digital platforms, with concerns raised about dependence on Big Tech infrastructure, such as Google and YouTube, which can jeopardize independent media's sustainability.
The afternoon session featured a workshop led by Öyküm Hümâ Keskin from Teyit.org, who provided tools for combating misinformation and fostering critical thinking.
Day 3:Collaborative opportunities
On the last day, there was a brainstorming session on fostering collaboration. Participants proposed launching a trilingual digital publication focusing on peace journalism and positive human-interest stories. Plans for a shared newsroom, monthly editorial meetings, and cross-border reporting initiatives were discussed.
