The journalism workshop organised by IPS Communications Foundation and Press Now at the Piraziz Park Hotel in Giresun was supported by publisher and Galatasaray University lecturer Ragip Duran, Assist. Prof. Esra Arsan from Bilgi Univesity, Niko Haasbroek from Press Now and photographer Yücel Tunca. 

The two-day workshop lasted from 24 to 25 November and was organised by Nadire Mater, project manager for the IPS Communications Foundation, Ruken Baris, responsible for Press Now projects in Turkey, Baran Gündogdu, administrator of the IPS Communcations Foundation and interpreter Jesicca Lutz.

Problems in local journalism

Following Arsen's presentation on preparing and writing a news item, journalists discussed the fact that in local journalism everyone knows each other and that this can create problems. Financial difficulties were also debated. Many of the participants said that they had to supplement their income with other jobs.

Considerations of neutrality and ethics

The recent upsurge in "terrorism" started a discussion on whether newspapers had the right to take sides.

Duran and Haasbroek both focused on ethical issues in reporting, with Haasbroek introducing the "!0 Commands of Journalism", which included objectivity, research, and a questioning mind.

Use of photos 

The journalists also attended a photography workshop, at which they discussed good and bad examples of the use of visuals in local, international and mainstream media.

IPS Communications Foundation and Press Now

The IPS Communications Foundation, founded in 1993, has been organising projects on basic journalism, rights reporting and reporting focusing on women and children since 2000. The projects are conducted by the Independent Communication Network (BIA) and the Media Freedom and Independent Journalism Monitoring and News Network (BIA²).

Press Now is an NGO founded in Amsterdam in 1993 and aiming to support independent media. It supports more than 100 media projects in the Balkans, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, the Caucausus, the Middle East and Northern Africa. Press Now is financed by several institutions, including the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and is also supported by individual donations.

The two-day workshop was attended by:

Dursun Onur (Yıldız News Newspaper), Saliha Yayla (Yeni Giresun Newspaper), Zafer Camaltı (Giresun Isik Newspaper), Hasan Seyis (Meltem TV), Bekir Bayram (President of Journalists’ Association), Mehmet Yüksel (Giresun Latest News-Internet), Gülizar Senel (Giresun Agenda), Neslihan Özgür (Ayakizi Dergisi), Enver Sipahioglu (Giresun Newspaper), Cemalettin Tiryaki (Anadolu News Agency), Serpil Gürgen (Özbulancak Newspaper), Erdal Demiralp (Hisar FM), Nihat Yeni (Hisar FM), Arif Sarıgül (Hisar FM), Metin Akyürek (Ihlas News Agency), Yasemin Coci (Fatsa Radyo Mega), Senay Tezel (Hizmet TV), Esma Gürel (Hizmet Newspaper), Mücahit Gürel (Ünye Journalists’ Society), İbrahim Coskun (Ünye Agenda Newspaper), Muhammet Halıcı (Melodi FM), Sibel Özmen (Hürses Newspaper), Dilsat Naz (Anadolu Agency Reporter), Figen Cakmak (Haberci Newspaper), Osman Sahin (Meltem TV), Hakan Kabahasanoglu (Dogan News Agency). (GG/NZ/AG)