Media ethics in Turkey public diplomacy and soft power practice: TRT Avaz example

Public Diplomacy is defined as the effort of governments to express their ideas, ideologies and policies in the field of International Relations in another geography with their cultural and human heritage. Governments try to provide a positive image by conveying its goals, policies and messages to foreign communities in the international arena. Public Diplomacy is required for the successful implementation of these aims on the target group. The main goal in Public Diplomacy is to achieve success in foreign policy and international relations, particularly by actively using communication and media instruments to reach the target group quickly and permanently. In this dissertation, the actors, governmental and non-governmental organizations that implement Public Diplomacy in Turkey, various studies in this field, the use of media tools, and the practises to reach the target group have been examined. Turkey has historical, cultural and religious common values with Central Asia, Caucasus and Balkan geography. In this study, besides Public Diplomacy and media relations; TRT AVAZ channel, which was founded in 2009 and started broadcasting under TRT, has been examined. TRT Avaz's broadcasting concept, goals, contribution to the positive image and promotion of Turkey, and similarities with some international channels are discussed. How TRT AVAZ reached its target audience other than television frequency, its official website and social media accounts, the programs it broadcasts and sample broadcast flow were evaluated in the dissertation. TRT AVAZ broadcast in terms of strengthening, advancing and continuing the values of Turkish culture, art, family and society. TRT AVAZ has been broadcasting special programs for the development of relations between Turkey and the Turkic states. While examining the effect of TRT AVAZ in terms of Public Diplomacy, primary and secondary sources and observation methods were used in the dissertation. Public Diplomacy activities implemented by Turkey, soft power steps, media-specific benefits and contributions of TRT AVAZ in international broadcasting, image, promotion and information were tried to be explained.