RTÜK President Şahin: “Strong media is only possible with a conscious society.”

The “Empowered Media for A Conscious Society Summit” organized under the auspices of the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) started on Tuesday, April 29, 2025 at Ankara Bilkent Hotel and Conference Hall. The two-day summit aims to comprehensively address the quality of media content, media literacy and its effects on children, youth and families.

The event brings together the media world with academia, non-governmental organizations and public institutions, creates a comprehensive inter-sectoral dialogue environment. It discusses the effects of media content on social structure within the framework of the themes of “Daytime and Magazine Programs”, “Television Series”, “News Programs”, “On Demand Media Services”, “Commercial Broadcasts”, “Sports, Health and Environment Programs”, “Audience” and “Youth” in round table workshops.

The summit, held for the first time this year under the leadership of RTÜK, was organized in cooperation with Ankara University, Ankara Bilim University, Başkent University, Türkiye Youth Clubs Confederation and Istanbul Family Foundation.

RTÜK President Ebubekir Şahin, Ankara University Rector Prof. Dr. Necdet Ünüvar, Ankara University Rector Prof. Dr. Yavuz Demir, Ankara Bilim University Rector Prof. Dr. Yavuz Demir, Başkent University Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Özcan Yağcı, Istanbul Family Foundation President Üner Karabıyık, Türkiye Youth Clubs Confederation President Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bilal Okudan delivered the opening speeches of the summit.

President Şahin Delivered Critical Messages in His Speech

Drawing attention to the shaping effect of the media on society, RTÜK President Ebubekir Şahin said in his opening speech: “Today, we are here together to discuss the effects of the media on the social structure in all its aspects and to build a more conscious and responsible approach to the media. The expression “Strong Media, Conscious Society” is not only a goal, but also a common responsibility of all of us. Media is no longer just a tool that conveys information; it is a powerful mechanism that shapes cultural codes, guides individual perceptions and influences social transformation. For this reason, the content, language, visual language and presentation style of the media have a wide range of effects from our children to our family structure, from social relations to our cultural values. As RTÜK, while carrying out our supervisory and regulatory role, we also care about being a guiding, constructive institution that thinks together with society. In particular, we make great efforts to encourage a broadcasting approach that protects the development of children and young people, protects the family structure and does not harm our social values.”

Şahin also stated that the declaration of 2025 as the “Year of the Family” by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan provides an important framework for media policies. “The declaration of 2025 as the ‘Year of the Family’ by our President Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is of particular value to us. This vision, aiming to strengthen the family institution, provides a supportive framework for RTÜK's broadcasting policies and social responsibility projects. Because a strong family means a strong society. It is our duty to analyze the threats facing the family through the content in the media and take preventive steps.”

Emphasizing that the sessions to be held under various headings throughout the Summit will lead the power of the media to a healthier line, Şahin said, “The Summit, which will be held under many headings ranging from daytime programs to news bulletins, from digital content to advertising broadcasts, will allow us to address the social effects of the media in more depth. At these tables, academia, the public, the media and the audience will think together and produce solutions; they will develop a common mind for the problems that affect us all.”

President Şahin thanked all the young people who participated in the “Digital Poster Competition” organized by RTÜK in order to move the media to a more productive and critical ground, where the winners will find their awards within the scope of the Summit, expressing that it is promising to see the creativity and sensitivity of young people regarding media criticism.

Şahin expressed his gratitude in his speech to the partners, universities, non-governmental organizations, and all participants who contributed to the Summit, stating: “At the same time, I would like to thank Prof. Dr. Zeliha Eser for her valuable contributions throughout the entire process of the ‘Empowered Media for A Conscious Society Summit', which took almost six months to prepare, from the initial idea stage to today. I also extend my gratitude to the esteemed academics who are moderating the summit round tables today: Prof. Dr. Fatih Keskin, Prof. Dr. Gilman Senem Gençtürk Hızal, Prof. Dr. Günseli Bayraktutan, Prof. Dr. Bilge Donuk, Assoc. Prof. Engin Sarı, Dr. Lecturer Yeliz Dede Özdemir, and Dr. Lecturer Sevtap Yeşil Kocagazioğlu. I firmly believe that through such platforms, we will take steps that strengthen media responsibility, enhance content quality, and raise audience awareness. A strong media is only possible with a conscious society. With this understanding, we will continue our work.”

“Not only Perceptions but also Emotions Are Manipulated”

In his speech at the ‘Empowered Media for A Conscious Society Summit' Istanbul Family Foundation President Üner Karabıyık, drew attention to the power of the media to shape the social structure and underlined that broadcasting organizations should act with a sense of responsibility and said, “In the post-truth era, disinformation and manipulation are given a great space with augmented virtual reality, not facts, and not only perceptions but also emotions are manipulated. The summit is very important in terms of enabling you, esteemed experts, professionals and academicians, to address these issues at length and to create concrete outputs on solutions.” Karabıyık stated that especially through digital platforms and television content, the family structure is damaged and the value world of young people is negatively affected, and said, “Society wants to be protected from the content it watches.” Drawing attention to the effects of cultural imperialism and content manipulation on young generations, Karabıyık stated that protecting the family has become a national security issue. Karabıyık also gave information about Istanbul Family Foundation's family-oriented field research and counseling activities on young people and called for an increased awareness of social responsibility in the media sector.

Karabıyık also stated that the 21st century is defined as the age of democracy and freedom, but the reality of the genocide in Gaza has deeply shaken these concepts. Emphasizing that the companies with the highest advertising budgets in the media support both Israel's attacks on Gaza and global desexualization projects, Karabıyık drew attention to the influence of these companies on broadcasting policies and content.

“Media Should Not Only Carry News, But Value Too”

In his speech, Prof. Dr. Necdet Ünüvar, Rector of Ankara University, touched upon the impact of the media on the construction of culture. Pointing out the importance of adhering to legal and ethical principles in broadcasting, Ünüvar said, “A society consisting of conscious individuals is the greatest guarantee of a strong media.” Stating that both institutions and society have a great responsibility to improve media literacy and increase access to accurate information, Ünüvar expressed that Ankara University fully supports this process.

“Strengthening the Media is a Necessity for Our Future”

Başkent University Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Özcan Yağcı emphasized that communication is a power that transforms societies and stated that strengthening media responsibility is imperative for the construction of the future.

“Language is an Important Medium”

Prof. Dr. Yavuz Demir, Rector of Ankara Bilim University, delivered a speech drawing attention to the importance of language in the process of transforming into a conscious society with strong media. Rector Demir said the following in his speech: “Language is the shelter of our thoughts to which we entrust our existence. The media, taking the wind of technology behind it, turns into a kind of hurricane and drags whatever comes its way. Our language consciousness, where everything is shaped, is the only power to protect us from this hurricane. At the point where the mind cannot reach, the media can no longer be effective; because the media cannot touch the individual who has transformed language into a high principle of protection.”

“New Media Leads Young People's Lives”

Türkiye Youth Clubs Confederation President Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bilal Okudan pointed to the transformation of the youth's relationship with the media and said, “What is said on a screen today echoes on the streets of tomorrow.”  Okudan stated that media literacy should be improved and policies to protect young people should be implemented rapidly.

Audience and Producers at the Same Table

During the Summit sessions, media producers and viewers met at the same table and engaged in direct dialog. The most remarkable moments of the day were the colorful scenes where producers of popular programs and viewers participated in discussions.

At the end of the Summit, President Şahin congratulated the participants. The first day of the Summit ended with a collective photo shoot.

Second Day Program

The summit will continue on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş and Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin will deliver speeches.

In the panel to be organized in the afternoon, experts from Turkey and internationally will share their views under the title of “The Impact of Negative Content in the Media on Society and Solution Suggestions”.

Representatives of media regulatory bodies from Albania, Azerbaijan and Serbia will also participate in the panel and share their international experiences. Within the scope of the summit, the award ceremony of the Digital Poster Contest organized by RTÜK will be held and the results of the media perception and attitude survey conducted by Türkiye Youth Clubs Confederation with 5,000 people in 81 provinces will be shared with the public.