Anadolu holds forum on 'Rethinking Journalism in Digital Era'

By Utku Simsek

Anadolu, the top international news agency based in Türkiye, held a forum Wednesday titled "Reporter: Rethinking Journalism in the Digital Era."

Academics from communication faculties and journalists, including Anadolu staff, attended the event at Anadolu's workshop.

The basics of traditional journalism and the social media and artificial intelligence applications that shape today's media were discussed, while the agency's updated "Reporter" book was also introduced.

Journalist Didem Ozel Tumer noted that when she started her career, they worked with walkie-talkies, and the most advanced technological device was the pager. She said that today, she can write and present news on her smartphone or edit and transmit an image she took with it.

Tumer said she is among those who can blend with technology and take part in it without resisting it.

"Yes, we have accelerated. Yes, more people are no longer needed. If we go through examples, when I joined the Milliyet newspaper in 1995 as a trainee reporter, at least two reporters covered every field. There were only those who monitored political parties from both the parliament and the headquarters.

"Now, I am trying to do the same job in the same way with six to seven reporters in the office where approximately 25-26 reporters work," she added.

She emphasized that in addition to taking advantage of all the opportunities offered by technology, old familiar methods should be transferred to them.

Journalist Ahmet Yesiltepe said he is a member of Turkish news agency NTV's Foreign News department and that they have formed a group in their internal communications for confirming information.

Yesiltepe said they make a lot of use of social media but do not directly report the information received through these platforms and write the news after resorting to confirmation as part of the fight against disinformation.

Journalist Selim Atalay said the digital era has brought with it credibility questions and there is a lot of concern about being reliable.

Noting that he had previously worked at Anadolu, Atalay said: "Anadolu Agency is a pioneer and determinant in technology. Anadolu Agency has to be the pioneer and the first. For this reason, it was the first to implement technology in every period, both in radio and telephone."

"This function of Anadolu Agency stems from its management," he added.

Atalay also praised Anadolu's role for spreading technology to the media.

Prof. Fatih Kesin of Ankara University's Faculty of Communication said social actors consume technology rapidly before they can digest it.

"Not only journalism, but in terms of many professions, the usability of the profession, the social function of the performer of the profession, the professional practices and the political, cultural and economic conditions in which that profession takes place are changing and transforming in a very radical way," he said.

Noting that the social functions of journalism have also changed and transformed, Keskin said the question is not to what extent technology will be followed but to what extent it will be utilized.

He highlighted that a generation with more developed cognitive skills is expected in the new era.

"We are waiting for a generation whose analytical thinking will develop and whose creative thinking skills will increase."

Journalist Taha Huseyin Karagoz said he benefited a lot from the innovations brought by digital transformation.

Stressing that he actively uses artificial intelligence applications in particular, Huseyin Karagoz said he can broadcast at some points thanks to his smartphone, which makes him feel comfortable.

Referring to the importance of Anadolu's Confirmation Line, he also said that he actively uses it when in doubt.

- 'We want to evolve into a media technology company'

Speaking at the closing of the panel, Anadolu's Chairman and General Manager Serdar Karagoz said: "Anadolu Agency is a media company. But we are changing this. We want to evolve into a media technology company. Because now the relationship between news and technology has become more intense than in the past."

Karagoz pointed out that there is a bombardment of one-sided news in Gaza and said: "If Anadolu Agency wasn't in Gaza today, the world would have faced different content."

After his speech, Karagoz presented the agency's "Reporter" book to the participants.

*Writing by Serdar Dincel from Istanbul