Director of Communications Altun: "We attach great importance to the trial process at the International Court of Justice that began yesterday to hold Israel accountable for its crimes in Palestine. Türkiye has been a part of this process from the very beginning and will continue to follow it closely."
Presidency's Director of Communications Fahrettin Altun spoke at the launch of TRT's Academy at the Istanbul Congress Centre.
Wishing TRT's Academy, which is the outcome of an intensive effort and an innovative broadcasting concept, good luck and expressing his delight to be there, Director of Communications Altun stated that TRT's path runs parallel to the path of the Republic of Türkiye and that TRT is an institution that has historically advanced on the national and international arena through its ever-growing and ever-developing achievements.
Pointing out that TRT began its journey through radio broadcasting in 1927 and later took the first step into television broadcasting in 1968, the Director of Communications Altun said that the institution was capable of sustaining its existence under challenging conditions.
Noting that today they live in Türkiye which has broken the chain of dependence in the field of media and information as in many other fields, Director of Communications Altun said, "And in Türkiye, we have institutions and public broadcasters that influence public communication policies. Today, TRT broadcasts nationally and internationally, has 17 television channels and 17 radio channels and broadcasts in 41 languages and dialects. Now TRT has a solid, effective and successful performance in a wide range of fields, encompassing culture and the arts, news and sports, international broadcasting, and digital broadcasting."
Director of Communications Altun stated that the main objective of the institutions responsible for carrying out public communication policy is to transform Türkiye into a centre of attraction in the field of media and information and to maximise the capability and capacity in this field and that the Presidency's Directorate of Communications, TRT, Anadolu Agency and the Press Advertisement Agency have demonstrated a solid performance in this context.
"TRT's Academy will go beyond being a global brand of Türkiye"
Noting that today, TRT launched TRT's Academy, an essential project, with this approach, Director of Communications Altun said:
"TRT, which actually operates as a media school in Türkiye, has now institutionalised its educational function by launching the TRT's Academy. TRT's Academy is an exceptional project that goes being a global brand of Türkiye and aims to make our country one of the communication centres in the world and can contribute greatly in this regard."
"One of the greatest threats against media order is disinformation"
Director of Communications stated that under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the country has made great strides in almost every field in recent years and that one of the most strategic of these fields is media and communication.
Noting that today's media order presents great opportunities as well as extraordinary threats, the Director of Communications Altun said, "The greatest of these threats is disinformation, which we can characterise as the plague of our age. False, fabricated and fake news, information pollution, manipulation and the cyber threats that accompany them can be found in every aspect of our daily lives and can easily influence our decisions, our approach to events and our perceptions. Disinformation has the capacity to exert negative impacts not only on the lives of individuals but also on societies as a whole; consequently, it can also negatively shape inter-societal relations."
Director of Communications Altun went on to say:
"Today, we need to highlight and emphasise the institutional capability of mainstream media instruments in researching, defending and presenting the truth in the fight against disinformation and information pollution that we face in the new media order. In this regard, we have to use the historical knowledge and experience of the mainstream media to defend the truth as a shield in the fight against disinformation and the fight against digital fascism that we face in the new media order. In this respect, we are not only talking about a professional background. We are also talking about truth activism. Standing up for the truth in the face of disinformation campaigns and systematic lie campaigns is the mission that mainstream media, both in the private and public sectors, should take on in this context. In this regard, our public broadcasters—particularly TRT and Anadolu Agency—have demonstrated exceptional performance in upholding the truth and fulfilling their historical duty and function in this regard."
"Israel is committing a war crime, a genocide in Palestine"
Director of Communications Altun stated that society must be informed using the truth, not lies and fake news, and that a media order that presents the truth in accordance with this principle is a crucial component that can enhance a nation's democratic national culture and fortify its standing abroad.
Emphasising that Türkiye, as a strong actor in its region and as a global playmaker and stabilising actor, employs this exact approach and that it struggles for truth in the field of media and information as in many other fields, Director of Communications Altun said, ''Today, as we all know, the entire world has been witnessing the atrocities committed by Israel in Gaza since October 7. We are all aware that as a result of Israel's illegal and inhumane attacks, Palestine is experiencing the greatest cruelty and atrocity of the recent past, including genocide, the forced and unjust eviction of people from their homes, and all forms of persecution, discrimination, and massacre. Israel is committing a war crime, a genocide in Palestine."
Director of Communications Altun stated that the global tutelage system and the global media organisations controlled by them demonstrated a tremendous example of hypocrisy and evil in order to cover up and, more painfully, legitimise Israel's cruel and brutal attacks.
''Evidence from our institutions reveals the atrocities committed by Israel"
Stating that they confronted this hypocrisy and evil from the beginning and will continue to do so, Director of Communications Altun said, "From the beginning, we have exposed and will continue to expose Israel's lies and systematic disinformation campaigns. We believe this is a struggle for truth and that, with the permission of Allah, this struggle for truth will serve to stop the atrocities occurring in Gaza. Throughout this process, evidence supplied by our Centre for Combating Disinformation within the Directorate of Communication, Anadolu Agency, and TRT has demonstrated that Israel has engaged in acts of aggression in Gaza and Palestine. The evidence of Israel's atrocities and genocide in the international arena today uncovers and registers Israel's atrocities, cruelty, and genocide."
''We attach great importance to the trial process at the International Court of Justice''
Director of Communications Altun continued his remarks by stating that adopting President Erdoğan's slogan "A fairer world is possible" and becoming the voice of all oppressed and victimised peoples, particularly Palestinians, is a declaration of humanitarian and conscientious responsibility.
We attach great importance to the trial process at the International Court of Justice that began yesterday to hold Israel accountable for its crimes in Palestine. Türkiye has been a part of this process from the very beginning and will continue to follow it closely. We are proud that, in the present matter, the evidence presented by our institutions—the Centre for Combating Disinformation, the Anadolu Agency, and TRT—is also taken into consideration during the trial process. In this regard, I sincerely thank all my friends and colleagues who contributed to the process. I believe that through these lawsuits and trial processes, international judicial bodies will acknowledge and register Israel's violations of the law and impose appropriate punishment."
''We strive to put forward concrete actions in the media''
Declaring that their will and perspective for the future are fairer and more equitable, Director of Communications Altun said, "For this, we demand justice first and foremost in the field of communication and media, as in other fields, and we strive to put forward concrete actions that are sustainable and durable. The TRT's Academy Platform will undoubtedly stand out as one of the most concrete projects to provide our country's human resource potential with qualifications suitable for the spirit of the present age."
Director of Communications Altun stated that the employment of TRT's own resources in the establishment of this platform was a source of fulfilment and pride for TRT and thanked the participants.
