Conference for "Freedom of Media and Expression in Turkey"
Conference for “Freedom of Media and Expression in Turkey” in Point Hotel – Taksim on 24th November 2012
The issue of freedom of media and expression in Turkey has created anxiety in an upward scale in the recent period. It is also pointed out in the European Commission’s last Progression Report for 2012 with a same manner. Cases against the journalists (including long imprisonment periods), the emergence of self-censorship culture among the media workers and the near-monopolistic hegemony in the media industry seriously restrict the work area of the journalists and threaten the “forth power” in Turkey.
A conference for “Freedom of Media and Expression in Turkey” will be held in Point Hotel Taksim (Topçu Caddesi No.2, Taksim – İstanbul) on 24th November 2012 together with Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Umut Vakfi, Bianet and the Federation of European Journalists. We are aiming to examine closely the current developments in the media industry and discuss the steps to overcome this negative situation and reverse it together with the participation of international guests and representatives of Turkish media.
In addition to our esteemed guests, we are pleased to announce the participation of Ms. Dunja Mijatovic, Representative of OSCE Media Freedom and Ms. Işıl Karakaş, ECHR Judge, to the planned panel discussion. We are happy to invite you to our conference on 24th of November. You can see the program in the attachment.
Program
Conference
Media freedom and freedom of expression in Turkey
Current Developments
24 November 2012 Point Hotel Taksim, Istanbul
09.30 – 10.00 Registration
10.00 – 10.15 Welcome remarks
10.15 – 11.15 Introduction: Media Freedom and Human Rights – theory and practical experience
Inputs by:
Esra Arsan, Ass. Prof. for Media Communication, Bilgi University (tbc)
Arne König, President of EFJ (European Federation of Journalists)
Q&A
11.15 – 11.30 Tea/coffee break
11.30 – 13.00 Panel discussion: Freedom of expression and media freedom in Turkey
Panelists:
Dunja Mijatovic, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media
Isıl Karakas, Judge of the European Court of Human Rights
Ali Alkan, Court of Appeals for the First Circuit (tbc)
Sedat Ergin, Columnist at Hürriyet and Hürriyet Daily News (tbc)
Yavuz Baydar, Columnist at Today’s Zaman and New’s Ombudsman at Sabah
Moderated by: Fikret Đlkiz, Lawyer
13.00 – 14.30 Lunch break