Turkey and the Western Balkans may seem different, but in many respects the two regions are similar. In both cases, increasing authoritarian tendencies are exacerbating deep structural problems in society. Governments are showing increasing contempt for political rights, freedom of expression and freedom of association and are trying to control the media market. Journalists, editors and activists are struggling to conduct their work, often at high personal risk. At the same time, the rapidly changing media environment that follows global trends of digitalization has outstripped media literacy in both regions.
This session aims to discuss how the media can try to shift the power back to the citizens. By sharing their extensive experience, our panelists from Turkey and the Western Balkans will reveal their struggle to counter this power grab, through innovation and creativity, and in spite of a shrinking media space.

Moderator

Gülsin Harman, Turkish Journalist 

Speakers

Miodrag Vujović, Secretary General of Organizacija KOD

Besa Luci, chief editor and founder of Kosovo 2.0

Ruşen Çakır, founding member and chief editor of Medyascope