Speakers: Ezgi Basaran, Akın Enver, Afsin Yurdakul
Chair: Mehmet Karli
Convener: Mehmet Karli
The webinar will focus on the findings of a recently-completed research project on Turkey’s digital media ecosystem carried out, EDAM, one of the leading independent think-tanks in Turkey, and funded by the US-based Chrest Foundation. The project has provided a detailed analysis of Turkey’s digital media ecosystem. Turkey has more than 70% internet penetration. Despite restrictions, Turkey ranks among the most active countries in terms of using social media for political communication purposes. Successive crises, such as the failed coup attempt in July 2016, terrorist attacks, elections, and protests have been ‘digitally mediated’. Yet, as per the 2018 Reuters Institute Digital News Report, Turkey is also one of the most vulnerable countries to disinformation, bot usage, and cyber-attacks. EDAM’s study provides the first detailed mapping of the digital media ecosystem, including disinformation, fact-checkers, and implications for journalism, including regulatory suggestions.