Young media students awarded by Aydın Doğan Foundation

ISTANBUL - Doğan News Agency

Some 59 projects belonging to 102 undergraduate communications students from 25 universities across Turkey have received a host of prizes at the 29th Young Communicators’ Competition organized by the Aydın Doğan Foundation (ADV) at Yeditepe University in Istanbul.

Erciyes University in the Central Anatolian province of Kayseri, Gümüşhane University in the northeastern province of Gümüşhane and Selçuk University in the Central Anatolian province of Konya were among universities whose students became prize winners.

A total of 1,087 students from the communications faculties of 42 universities across Turkey participated in the competition with 917 different projects in a host of fields, including written news, research and investigation, interview, documentary, photography, advertisement, public relations and social media projects.

Doğan Group Honorary Chairman Aydın Doğan, Aydın Doğan Foundation’s Chairwoman Hanzade Doğan Boyner, Yeditepe University Founder and Honorary Chairman Bedrettin Dalan, Aydın Doğan Foundation Executive Director Candan Fetvacı and Hürriyet daily’s columnists Deniz Zeyrek, Ertuğrul Özkök and Sedat Ergin were present in the event.

Giving a speech at the event, Doğan Boyner said the world is undergoing a digital transformation era, adding it has both positive and negative outcomes.

She said the essence of communication should be a genuine search for reality in such an era.

“Your primary value should be the quest for reality, as this is the only way to stand against smart algorithms in this era of digital transformation, which mostly affects the field of communication. The way we communicate with each other, we reach information or we express ourselves have all changed due to this transformation process,” she said.

“Technology brought virtual lives and virtual realities to our lives. In this sense, looking for the reality in a transparent and genuine way makes us real communication professionals,” she added.
Doğan Boyner called on policymakers, communication faculties and non-governmental organizations to step in when it comes to tackling some negative impacts of digital transformation on communication.

“Social media platforms sometimes make uncontrolled flow of information, fake news or hate speech easier to circulate,” she said.

Meanwhile, Dalan also thanked Doğan for supporting and encouraging young communication students and professionals as part of the Aydın Doğan Foundation.

“It is crucial to encourage young communication students and professionals because encouraging right communication ensures peace between people,” Dalan said.

Meanwhile, a panel session titled “Media and Content Production in Digital Transformation Era” was held, moderated by Özkök and attended by Posta daily’s columnist Candaş Tolga Işık, CNN Türk TV presenter Deniz Bayramoğlu and Hepsiburada Chief Marketing Officer Yüce Zerey.