As part of the “Empowered Media for A Conscious Society” organized by the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK), a panel titled “The Impact of Negative Content in the Media on Society and Suggestions for Solutions” was held on April 30 at Ankara Bilkent Hotel and Conference Hall.

Moderated by RTÜK Vice President Deniz Güler, the panel discussed the effects of media content on individuals and society, ethical broadcasting principles and solution proposals in this field.

International Participation Attracted Attention

Bahadır Yenişehirlioğlu, AK Party Manisa MP, lawyer, writer and actor, Ronelda Rrapollari, Secretary General of the Albanian Audiovisual Media Authority (AMA), Fazil Novruzov, Secretary General of the Audiovisual Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan (ACRA) and Sasa Simović, Vice President of the Serbian Regulatory Authority of Electronic Media (REM) participated in the panel.

The speakers emphasized that media is not only a medium that provides information, but also a powerful tool that shapes social mindset and value judgments.

RTÜK Vice President Deniz Güler: “Media directly affects social values”

RTÜK Vice President Deniz Güler made the following statements in his opening speech at the panel: “We are very pleased to be with you on the second day of “Empowered Media for A Conscious Society”, which we are very proud to host as the Radio and Television Supreme Council. Today, we have come together here with our valuable activities to discuss the effects of harmful content in the media on society in a healthier environment, to identify problem areas and to develop solutions. As you know, media is a very powerful tool that directly affects the mindset, social behavior and social values. We all have a common responsibility. We held a very productive summit here for two days. We discussed many issues from daytime, news programs, on-demand TV series, movies and children's programs to commercial communication. Problems were identified and communicated to us. Of course, this summit reminded us once again of our responsibility as RTÜK. At the same time, it also showed us once again that we can move forward by carrying out common sense with all our partners.  As the host organization, we see this summit not only as a ground for exchanging views, but also as a concrete indicator of the common will to build a more conscious media. The ideas that emerged here, the solutions expressed and proposed are actually the building blocks of our future roadmap.  I would like to thank all our stakeholders and participants who stood by us with their strong vision and support for this summit.”

Referring to the results of a survey conducted by the Türkiye Youth Clubs Confederation with 5000 people in 81 cities across Turkey, Güler stated that traditional television still maintains its strong position. He stated that content that is far from ethical and moral values creates serious concerns among viewers and causes psychological negativity, and that viewers demand more conscious, educational and value-oriented broadcasts.

Bahadır Yenişehirlioğlu: “The issue is not what we watch, but how we become what we watch”

AK Party Manisa MP, lawyer, writer and actor Bahadır Yenişehirlioğlu stated in his speech at the panel that the negative content in the media is not just a screenshot and said “Today we are not at a media panel, we are here to talk about the wounds opened in the heart of a civilization. Because the trend in the media has become a common problem not only in our country but also in the whole world. Our issue is far beyond just a broadcast of a screenshot with visual content, we have come together here to trace an unseen war, a silent invasion, an unnoticed tremor. The issue is not just what we watch, the issue is what we turn into. Today, what we call negative content in the media is not only targeting the screen, but also the heart, conscience and ultimately the whole society. Because the media appeals not only to the eyes but also to the heart.”

Ronelda Rrapollari “Media shapes the way we think”

In her speech, Ronelda Rrapollari, Secretary General of the Albanian Audiovisual Media Authority (AMA), emphasized the power of the media in shaping the way individuals think, feel and make decisions: “The media is the element that shapes the way we see the world, our lifestyle, our social structure and the way we make decisions. Therefore, media is important because it is one of the most powerful structures that influence how we think, feel and behave.”

Fazil Novruzov: “Media is at the center of public discourse”

Fazil Novruzov, Secretary General of the Audiovisual Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan (ACRA), also drew attention to the power of media content to shape public opinion and made the following assessment: “In the modern world, media content has a huge impact on public opinion and plays an important role in shaping cultural roles and norms. The media has a critical function in the dissemination of information and the formation of public discourse. In this respect, it is of great importance for the well-being of the whole society.”

Saša Simović: “Online media regulation is now inevitable”

Saša Simović, Vice President of the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media (REM) of Serbia, emphasized that harmful content is now largely found online: “As regulators, we are all responsible for regulating radio and television. However, online media has taken the lead, especially in terms of harmful and negative content.”

Digital Poster Contest Awards Given

At the end of the panel, the winners of the “Digital Poster Contest” organized by RTÜK to promote a more productive and critical media platform received their awards. The program ended with a souvenir photo with all speakers and participants.