Prof. Dr. Korkmaz Alemdar talked about the history of AA in the “Foundation and Development of the Anatolian Agency (AA) Workshop” held in the Press House as part of the Media for Democracy/Democracy for Media (M4D) Program. The workshop was attended by members of the administrative board of the Journalism Research and Training Centre, Yusuf Kanlı, Esq. Tuncay Alemdaroğlu, Prof. Dr. Abdülrezak Altun and Advisory Committee members Ceyhan Baytur, Gülsün Bilgehan, faculty member Hülya Eraslan, Gül Karagöz-Kızılca, Vecdi Seviğ and Süleyman Coşkun. The workshop was also attended by M4D Assistant Program Director Seva Ülmen Erten, journalist Metin Aksoy and many faculty of communications students. Kanlı, who made the opening speech, gave brief information about the M4D program emphasized the importance of young journalists attending the activities held as part of the program. Kanlı said “ It is important that young media workers want to develop themselves, journalists and journalists of the future attend our talks and trainings.”
Prof. Dr. Korkmaz Alemdar: “Anatolian Agency is a unique organization that has shaped the Republic’s communication policies.”
Alemdar talked about the founding process of AA during the first session, he emphasized that it was a unique model for the world history of communication and “the Anatolian Agency is the written source of the history of Turkey”. Alemdar stated that “Although AA receives funds from the state it shouldn’t be forgotten that its executive board members own shares in the agency.” Alemdar also talked about the administrative policies of AA since its beginning, he reminded that AA advocated national interests “This facet of the agency took a back seat after the transition to a multi-party system, political interests began to define the broadcasting principles of the agency” said Alemdar.
AA hasn’t been given the importance it deserves
Alemdar talked about how AA has began to lose its autonomous and unique structure due to shares allocated to journalists bringing in less profits, Alemdar added “There has been an increase in privately owned shares since the 1970s. AA’s staff lost its numerical superiority in the decision making process, AA was shook by uncertainties and many problems. The initial decision of 10 shares equating to 1 vote was replaced with each share is one vote, which caused AA to be tied to the government and losing its autonomous structure.”
Alemdar dedicated the second session to talking about a new structure based on the AA model “We need to review the mistakes of our unique organization AA and try to figure out how to fix these mistakes” said Alemdar. “A new structure based on public broadcasting and its principles must be established. As communication experts we need to work on new models. We aim to conduct work with the Journalism Research and Training Centre (GAEM) of the Association of Journalists to establish a public agency.
