Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU), Faculty of Communications and Media Studies, Department of New Media and Journalism students, appeared before a jury with their digital newspapers. Digital newspapers prepared by graduate candidates of the 2019-2020 Spring Semester, within the scope of graduation projects, were evaluated for the first time with an online jury meeting. The newspapers, which were prepared under the supervision of EMU Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, Department of New Media and Journalism Chair Assoc. Prof. Dr. Metin Ersoy and Dr. Engin Aluç, were presented in the newspaper format as well as in the magazine format. Among the jury members was EMU Faculty of Communications and Media Studies graduate and previous Editor in Chief of Detay newspaper, Oshan Sabırlı, who evaluated alongside EMU Faculty of Communications and Media Studies Vice Dean, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Metin Ersoy and EMU New Media and Journalism Department academic staff member, Dr. Engin Aluç. Experienced journalist Oshan Sabırlı attended the presentations that lasted over 2 hours from Hungary due to his current research there. The EMU Faculty of Communications and Media Studies that started online education since March with the rest of the university due to the COVID-19 pandemic, saw the New Media and Journalism Department providing the online jury experience to students and jury members for the first time this year.
The Newspapers were presented to the Jury’s taste
The 3 newspapers evaluated by the jury were examined under the headings such as news selection, language used, visual design, ethical values, critical view and distribution of the news by pages. Among the newspapers evaluated was “Kıbrıs'ın Sesi” newspaper prepared by Ali Ertoprak, Muhammed Ağar's “Ulak” newspaper and Ahmet Tilki's "Gazetilki" newspaper, within the context of the newspaper final project for evaluation by the jury. The online evaluation meeting allowed for the jury members to not only evaluate the work, but also gave them the opportunity to share their experiences from the sector with the students.
Sabırlı: “Improve yourselves in different areas”
Journalist Oshan Sabırlı who found the newspapers prepared by the studentts generally good, advised the students that they must develop themselves in different areas in light of his own experiences. Stating that it would be advantageous for students to know design, the internet and other topics where necessary, Sabırlı added that they received knowledge in the fields of radio, journalism and public relations during their studentship and they used the advantage of this information in the sector. Sabırlı continued: “The era is the internet era, the era is mobile application era, we have understood this very well during the COVID-19 process. There will always be the print press, but the format will change.”
Ersoy: “Sector Experience is Mandatory”
EMU Faculty of Communications and Media Studies, New Media and Journalism Department Chair Assoc. Prof. Dr. Metin Ersoy highlighted that the students presenting their final projects must gain sector experience during their undergraduate studies and after, and that the occupation of journalism will not come to an end and equipped journalists will be forefront in the changing media. Ersoy also mentioned that the academicians with industry experience have proven the importance in the subject of being equipped, and also touched on the importance of personal effort. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ersoy also emphasized that the New Media and Journalism Department's academic staff, infrastructure and the opportunities it provides to students provides graduates with the critical perspective to meet the needs of the sector, who are able to use new media well.
Aluç: “Experience the media structure we criticize in lessons”
EMU New Media and Journalism Faculty Member, Dr. Engin Aluç, recommended those that wish to continue in academics following their graduation should definitely experience the sector, drawing attention to the importance of seeing the structure of the media criticized in the lessons. Dr. Aluç stated that students who entered the media sector and then returned to continue their academic studies for postgraduate and doctorate positions could better understand many issues such as media ownership structure, publishing policy and the editorial process. Dr. Aluç continued his words as follows: “after my undergraduate studies I went to the sector, my knowledge was fresher and I was able to look more critically. I personally experienced the hierarchal structure of the newspaper while doing the newsaper design, on the other hand, while learning the production process of the news and advertisement, I witnessed that the headlines changed many times throughout the day and similar issues. I recommend you to learn the sector by living in it, following your undergraduate or post-graduate studies.”