During his address at the event held at AAtölye marking the 106th anniversary of Anadolu Agency (AA), the Presidency's Head of Communications, Burhanettin Duran, highlighted that the world is moving toward a point where it is increasingly unclear whether reality or perception has taken the place of the other.
Head of Communications Burhanettin Duran expressed his gratitude to Serdar Karagöz, the Chairman of the Board and Director General of Anadolu Agency (AA), as well as the agency’s executives during the event, stating:
"I see a young team before me. We are accompanied by visionary colleagues dedicated to fulfilling the ambitious mission outlined by our Director General, and it is a distinct pleasure to mark the agency’s 106th anniversary. Established in 1920, Anadolu Agency is a key institution that has followed the path paved by the founder of our Republic, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, consistently delivering strong performance and, notably, advancing to a new level over the past 20–25 years. The mission, which dates back to the National War of Independence and was articulated at the Agency’s founding by Halide Edib with the statement, ‘There is an innate sense of justice within every individual, and it is individuals who constitute nations,’ is, in my view, of great value. When viewed alongside the vision put forth by our President, the emerging global landscape presents us with new challenges and significant work ahead. From this perspective, Anadolu Agency takes on a key role alongside other organisations within the communication ecosystem."
"The world is moving toward a point where it is becoming increasingly unclear whether reality or perception has taken the place of the other"
Head of Communications Duran stated that how a story is told is also shaped by who reports it and the perspective through which it is conveyed to the world, and added:
"We recognise the importance of telling our own story. However, Türkiye is no longer just a country with the ambition to tell its own story; we are also a nation committed to telling the world what is happening around the world. This is precisely the responsibility that rests with us, the professionals within the communication ecosystem, aligned with the leadership and diplomacy demonstrated by our President. The Director General has previously articulated the idea of ‘explaining foreign affairs to the foreign world’; alternatively, we might phrase it as ‘telling the world what is happening around the world’ or ‘reporting the developments to the world’. We know that such a mission manifests itself through news reports, visuals, content, and narrative. We, too, have an ambition in this regard, and I believe it is more valuable today than ever before. Institutions such as Anadolu Agency are going through an era in which they must work even harder to uphold this ambition, advancing not only in competition but also in furthering their goals and ambitions. I have addressed the first aspect regarding the nature of this period and what we must do: We must now be the ones who shape the story, the narrative—and we must do so for the entire world. Another, yet equally important, aspect to recognise is the framework of values and references that guide our efforts. Here, we know that we must base our approach on our own civilisational values. After all, the world is moving toward a point where values are truly fading, and it is becoming increasingly unclear whether reality or perception has taken the place of the other.”
"The general consensus is that the world is moving toward a multipolar order"
“It is clear today that algorithms pose the risk to imprison us within our own echo chambers, that disinformation constitutes a substantial challenge, and that tackling these issues—especially in the era of artificial intelligence—is becoming ever more complex," Head of Communications Duran said, adding:
“Naturally, the context in which this is unfolding is also markedly different. When we ask the question, ‘Where is the world heading?’, there is a general consensus that it is moving toward a multipolar order. However, when we ask what kind of world this multipolar order will be, a wide range of voices and analyses emerge, and it is, in fact, not clear. How are global and regional powers aligning? How are they positioning themselves? Will these take the form of alliances that rival each other? Where will the transformation within the West lead? Will there be two Wests?"
"The world that is emerging is bringing with it a profound test"
Head of Communications Duran noted that the blurring of perception and reality—long discussed by communicators in the 1960s and 1970s—now faces a new and distinct risk driven by artificial intelligence and continued:
"I congratulate Anadolu Agency on this production, which showcases the striking, encompassing, and transformative effect of artificial intelligence, as we have just seen in the video. However, the world that is emerging is bringing with it a profound test. Therefore, I believe we have much to say in response to these challenges and that, if some fundamental values are indeed being redefined and repositioned, we have a great deal to contribute in this regard. How this is communicated—through which channels and by what means—is, of course, a complex and sophisticated task that requires considerable effort. In this context, I believe your efforts are very valuable."
During the event, Anadolu Agency Chair of the Board and Director General Serdar Karagöz presented Burhanettin Duran with a framed copy of the Agency’s founding circular.
Speaking to an Anadolu Agency correspondent following the programme, Head of Communications Duran said:
"I extend my congratulations to Anadolu Agency on its 106th anniversary. First of all, the Anadolu Agency was founded in 1920, during the National War of Independence, to tell the world what was happening in Türkiye. However, I now see that under President Erdoğan’s leadership, Türkiye has become a highly significant institution, telling the world what is happening around the world. This is indeed a most gratifying development."
Noting that “Anadolu Agency, which set itself the goal of ranking among the world’s top five news agencies, has, by enhancing its capacity and adapting to technology, become an institution through which many events around the world are now reported,” Head of Communications Duran added:
“Of course, there is still much to be done, but it is truly valuable that it has become an agency that tells the world what is happening across the world through the content it produces, while also upholding our values—justice, fairness, and universal principles.” In this regard, I extend my gratitude to both the Director General and the dedicated employees of the Anadolu Agency."
Meanwhile, the Presidency's Head of Communications, Burhanettin Duran, shared a post on his NSosyal account regarding the Anadolu Agency's 106th anniversary.
In his post, Head of Communications Duran said:
“I was very pleased to gather with the members of the AA Family on the occasion of Anadolu Agency’s 106th anniversary.
The establishment of #AnadoluAgency in the first year of the National War of Independence, even before the Ghazi Parliament had convened, clearly demonstrates the crucial role the press played in the National War of Independence.
We see that Anadolu Agency, which in those years proclaimed the truth against the falsehoods of the occupying forces and struggled for the independence and future of our nation, has carried out this mission with determination over the past 106 years. Furthermore, this struggle now extends beyond merely amplifying the voice of the Turkish nation.
Today, in line with the vision of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Anadolu Agency amplifies the voices of oppressed peoples worldwide, broadcasting in 13 languages across 137 countries.
In this regard, it also strongly enhances the communication pillar of our Century of Türkiye vision.
With media outlets like Anadolu Agency and TRT leading the way, Türkiye has significantly improved its institutional strength and capacity in communication.
With these thoughts in mind, I celebrate the 106th anniversary of Anadolu Agency, one of our country’s well-established and respected institutions, and extend my congratulations to its entire management and staff, especially our Director General, Serdar Karagöz."
