Sometimes the media should act as a “hammer of conscience”

The Çağın Vicdanı Club, operating under the Department of Health, Culture, and Sports (HCS) of Üsküdar University, held the first event of its ÇVKxTALKS series. Journalist Bilal Gündoğdu attended the event titled “The Role of Media Professionals in Making the Invisible Visible” as a guest speaker. Gündoğdu addressed many topics, including the impact of media on society, reporting from war zones, digital media, and influencer culture. Emphasizing that the media should sometimes act as a “hammer of conscience,” Gündoğdu stated that the greatest crisis today is information pollution.

The event took place at the Socrates Hall in E Block of Üsküdar University South Campus and was moderated by Ali Can Kurtbece.

“Social media has destroyed old authorities”

Stating that the rise of social media has weakened the authority of traditional media, Journalist Bilal Gündoğdu said, “Social media has destroyed old authorities. Everyone is now a potential journalist. The number of followers has become directly associated with the power of words. Staying truthful within this speed is the real challenge.”

“Sometimes the media should act as a ‘hammer of conscience’”

Emphasizing that journalism carried out in crisis regions, especially in the Middle East and Africa, must be human centered, Gündoğdu said, “In war journalism, the main issue is being able to show the human being. Stories, not numbers, are what truly make an impact. When we do not see the human face, the drama, and the reality, we become desensitized. Sometimes the media should act as a ‘hammer of conscience.’”

“Empathy defines the ethical boundary”

Drawing attention to the responsibility of the media, especially in sharing images related to war, disasters, and humanitarian crises, Gündoğdu stated, “If the person in that frame were your mother or your child, would you publish it? This is exactly where the ethical line begins. Empathy defines the ethical boundary.”

The greatest crisis today is information pollution

Touching upon the crisis of truth and manipulative content, Gündoğdu emphasized the importance of verification mechanisms. He said, “Today, the greatest crisis is information pollution. A false tweet can cause panic in an entire city. Being accurate is now just as much a responsibility as being fast.”

“We must be strong and good”

Stating that the media is not only a communication tool but also a mechanism with the power to influence, Gündoğdu said, “We talk about the influence of Hollywood, yet we still do not take media seriously enough. When power is in the hands of those with conscience, it carries goodness into society. Media is truly power. It is not enough to be good. We must be strong and good.”

The greatest investment is the one you make in yourself

At the end of the program, Gündoğdu offered advice to students and emphasized the importance of continuous learning. He said, “This field is changing very rapidly. If you do not constantly renew yourself, you cannot survive in the industry. Produce work and leave a mark. The greatest investment for the future is the investment you make in yourself.”

The event concluded with a group photo session.