“We Loved the Radio So Much” Documentary at Üsküdar Communication

The Faculty of Communication at Üsküdar University, in collaboration with the Department of Radio, Television, and Cinema, the Human-Oriented Communication Application and Research Center (İLMER), and the Cinema Club, hosted the event “We Loved the Radio So Much.” The event brought students together with the producers of the documentary, Prof. Özden Cankaya and Prof. Nazan Haydari.

Moderated by Dr. Hale Yaylalı, faculty member in the Department of Radio, Television, and Cinema, the event was held at the Fuat Sezgin Conference Hall on Üsküdar University’s South Campus. The event was attended by radio professional and academic Prof. Özden Cankaya, Prof. Nazan Haydari from Istanbul Bilgi University’s Faculty of Communication, and faculty members from the university.

During the event, the production process, historical background, and emotional depth of the documentary—shaped by the testimonies of women radio professionals who served at TRT (Turkish Radio and Television Corporation) for many years—were shared with the participants.

Following the screening, students had the opportunity to hear firsthand from the documentary’s producers about the production journey.

Prof. Özden Cankaya: “Seeing their passion even after 40 years moved me”

Prof. Özden Cankaya emphasized that this documentary, which started as an oral history project, held great emotional and historical significance for her. “Seeing the passion these women radio broadcasters still have for their profession even after 40 years deeply moved me,” she said. Cankaya noted that the documentary does not only showcase the programs themselves, but also highlights the women behind them, adding that hearing their voices again after so many years was a deeply special experience for both the women and the viewers.

Prof. Nazan Haydari: “Making women’s struggles within institutions visible was invaluable”

Prof. Nazan Haydari explained that the documentary is not just a historical record of media, but also a crucial work in making the struggles of women within institutional structures visible. “Documenting the powerful voices of women and their efforts within an institutional setting was very meaningful for us,” she said, adding that the long-overlooked contributions of these women broadcasters could finally be acknowledged through this documentary.

 

The event concluded with a Q&A session, where students’ questions were answered, and certificates of appreciation were presented to the guests.

The event ended with a group photo.

 

 

Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)