Üsküdar University Human-Centered Communication Application and Research Center (İLİMER), Department of New Media and Communication, and New Media and Journalism Program organized a “Media and Women” panel. ATV Weekend Main News Anchor Nihan Günay, Show Haber Reporter İlknur Yılmaz, and Beefikir Creative Agency Founding Partner Gözde Narman participated in the program as panelists. The panel discussed the presence of women in the media sector and the challenges they face.
The panel, held at Üsküdar University's South Campus Fuat Sezgin Conference Hall, was attended by the Head of the Faculty of Communication's Journalism Department, Prof. Dr. Süleyman İrvan, Head of the New Media and Communication Department, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gül Esra Atalay, Head of the New Media and Communication (English) Department, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bahar Muratoğlu Pehlivan, along with faculty academics and students.
The panel discussed the advantages and disadvantages of being a woman in the media.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gül Esra Atalay: “We continue to work towards empowering women in all areas”
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gül Esra Atalay delivered the opening speech of the panel. Atalay stated, “As Üsküdar University, with our human-centered communication approach, we continue to work towards ensuring gender equality and empowering women in all areas. This panel we organized is a step in this direction. We will continue to strive together for greater representation of women in the media sector, their increased presence in leadership positions, and the establishment of gender equality.”
Nihan Günay: “Just reaching a certain point is not success”
ATV Weekend Main News Anchor Nihan Günay touched upon the challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated industry. Günay said, “I worked with determination, and today I have to continue working at the same pace. Because just reaching a certain point is not success. The real success is being able to maintain and sustain that point. I understand this much better today.”
İlknur Yılmaz: “Behind every successful woman, a man is sought”
Show Haber Reporter İlknur Yılmaz touched upon the challenges of being a woman journalist in the media. Yılmaz said, “I could talk for hours, even until morning, about the difficulties of being a woman journalist, but then I would be unfair to other women. Because just being a woman is already difficult. There's a saying, ‘Behind every successful man, there is always a successful woman.’ In our sector, a man is sought behind every successful woman. This is a very interesting situation.”
Gözde Narman: “Women should receive positive discrimination”
Beefikir Creative Agency Founding Partner Gözde Narman spoke about her interest in the communication sector and her management experiences. Narman, focusing on the moral burdens and societal expectations brought by women's motherhood roles, stated, “I am actually someone who believes that women should receive positive discrimination.”
The panel continued with a Q&A session
The panelists stated to the students that to be successful in the media sector, they need to know many people, and that if they are strong, they can secure a place in the media.
The event, where the implications and experiences of being a woman in media were discussed, concluded after the presentation of certificates of appreciation to the panelists and a group photo session.
News - Photo: Ayşegül Gündoğdu