The ‘Media Meetings’ event organized by Kastamonu University Faculty of Communication was held at the Faculty of Communication Conference Hall under the moderation of Faculty Dean Prof. Dr. Muharrem Çetin. Important media representatives such as Kastamonu Gündem Media Editor-in-Chief Yılmaz Acar Davut, Taşköprü Post Editor-in-Chief Ünal Topuksuzoğlu, Kastamonu Açıksöz Newspaper Managing Editor Ali Sağır, Anadolu Agency Kastamonu Representative Özgür Alantor, Kastamonu Journalists Association President Erkan Yılmaz and Istiklal Newspaper Imtiyaz Owner İrfan Salcı attended the event. In addition, Associate Dean and Head of Radio Television Cinema Department Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ersoy Soydan, Head of the Journalism Department Prof. Dr. Erdem Güven, Faculty of Communication academicians and students also showed interest in the event.
In his opening speech, Prof. Dr. Muharrem Çetin mentioned the importance of the event, especially for first-year students, and emphasized the benefits of students' active work in university practice areas. Stating that internship programs will be launched both inside and outside the school, Çetin also talked about the accreditation processes carried out at the Faculty of Communication. Stating that the Department of Radio, Television, and Cinema was accredited two years ago, he emphasized that graduates will receive a diploma with the logo of the Turkish Qualification Framework and the international validity of this document. He stated that accreditation studies for the Department of Journalism are also continuing.
Speaking at the event, Erkan Yılmaz, President of the Kastamonu Journalists Association, stated that he has been in this position for 11 years and has also worked as the Editor-in-Chief of Kastamonu İstiklal Newspaper. Yılmaz drew attention to Kastamonu's deep-rooted journalism history and gave information about the Association of Journalists established in 1984. Stating that 30 out of 126 registered members have Presidential press cards, he invited the students to the press museum of the association and talked about the difficulties of doing journalism in a small city.
İrfan Salcı, İmtiyaz Owner of Kastamonu İstiklal Newspaper, discussed the difficulties faced by the local and national press and drew attention to the duty of informing the public. Stating that he has been a journalist since 2012, Salcı emphasized the importance of the profession and the necessity of being objective. Özgür Alantor, Kastamonu Representative of Anadolu Agency, addressed the first-year students at the event and told them that journalism is a sacred profession and how they can spend their four-year education period efficiently. Alantor stated that he regretted not practicing journalism during his university years. Ali Sağır, Managing Editor of Kastamonu Açıksöz Newspaper, stated that he has completed his 24th year of professional life and that he would like to be a graduate of the Faculty of Communication. He drew attention to the historical importance of Açıksöz Newspaper and its role in the National Struggle. Sağır said that journalism is like a school and the doors are always open to students.
Ünal Topuksuzoğlu, Editor-in-Chief of Taşköprü Postası Internet News Website, shared his digital media experience and touched upon the difficulties of making impartial news in the local press. He discussed the difficulties of journalism in small cities together with the effects of social media. Kastamonu Gündem Media Editor-in-Chief Yılmaz Acar Davut explained the importance of taking steps and being visible to the students at the event and stated that the practice of journalism will increase their experience in the sector. He stated that their work in Newspaper Campus is followed.
The event continued with Prof. Dr. Muharrem Çetin's speech on how Gazette Kampüs's news is used in local media and the necessity of citing sources. After the speeches, certificates of appreciation were presented to the participants and the event ended with a question and answer session and a group photo shoot.
