The Global Journalists Council (KGK), which has representatives in 88 countries and 81 provinces, will organize an exhibition and awards ceremony in London on October 1st. This event aims to contribute to Turkey's public diplomacy.

KGK had previously organized media gatherings, panels, and workshops in Nicosia, Baku, Berlin, Tbilisi, Moscow, and Tashkent. Last year, it held an exhibition and awards ceremony in New York City, USA. The Council is adding a new one to its international events with the exhibition and awards ceremony it will hold in London, the capital of the United Kingdom.

Documentary Exhibition

An exhibition will open on October 1st at the prestigious event venue Arundel House in London. Newspaper headlines and diplomatic correspondence compiled from the archive of collector Prof. Dr. Osman Kubilay Gül will be featured. Dr. Özgenur Reyhan Güler will curate the exhibition titled "Turkish-British Relations: From Documents to Life."

Awards Ceremony

Following the exhibition, the KGK 2nd International Friendship Awards ceremony will be held in the same hall. Turkish journalists working in London and Turkophile British journalists will be honored in various categories. Statesmen, representatives of non-governmental organizations who have contributed to Turkish-British friendship, and individuals and institutions supporting the event will also be presented with awards and plaques of appreciation.

Four Days in London

The event will be held under the patronage of the T.C. London Embassy and coordinated by KGK United Kingdom Representative Vatan Öz. The KGK delegation will arrive in London on Tuesday, September 29th. On September 30th, they will attend a reception hosted by Ambassador O. Koray Ertaş at the London Embassy in honor of the delegation. On the same day, they will meet with Turkish diaspora representatives, parliamentarians of Turkish origin, and media members in London. The delegation will also visit London's tourist and historical sites. Following the exhibition and ceremony on October 1st, the delegation will return to Turkey on October 2nd.

30-Person Delegation

The KGK delegation, which will depart from Istanbul for London on September 29th, consists of approximately 30 people. TRNC 5th President Ersin Tatar will attend as a guest of honor. The delegation also includes Ankara Keçiören Mayor Dr. Mesut Özarslan, Adana Sarıçam Mayor Bilal Uludağ, Alanya Municipality Director of Foreign Relations Nazmi Uyar, and veteran journalist and writer Yavuz Donat.

Anadolu Agency Deputy General Manager Oğuz Karakaş, KGK President Mehmet Ali Dim, Deputy President Nevzat Çiçek (Independent Türkçe), Vice Presidents Savaş Çokduygulu (5 Ocak), Nalan Yazgan (Cumhuriyet), and Edip Üzen (memurlar.net) are also part of the delegation. Secretary General Lütfü Karakaş (Son Haber), Financial Vice President Hayati Arıgan (Dünya), Assembly Presidents Özgenur Reyhan Güler from TV 24 (Mainstream Media) and İşad Eyvazlı from Media Türk (Foreign Media) are also included in the delegation. Board Member Yunus Soner (Telesur TV), Deputy Assembly President Ahmet Coşkunaydın (Aydınlık), Assembly Member Nurcan Demirtaş (Hürriyet), KGK Austria Representative Adil Elmas (Avusturya Günlüğü), and KGK Slovakia Representative Kemal Değirmenci are also in the delegation.

Dim: Our Goal is to Serve Our Country

KGK President Mehmet Ali Dim made a statement about the London event. He stated that the Council's most important mission is to support public diplomacy and said:

As the Global Journalists Council, we view this important gathering we will hold in London not merely as an awards ceremony or an exhibition organization, but as a public diplomacy activity that strengthens communication and friendship bridges between Turkey and the United Kingdom. Within the scope of our event, we will present awards to Turkish diaspora journalists working in London and various regions of the United Kingdom, as well as to Turkophile British journalists who contribute to Turkey, the Turkish community, and the relations between the two countries. With these awards, we aim to highlight journalism's contribution to the development of mutual understanding between societies, the reduction of prejudices, and the strengthening of friendships. In the exhibition we will open on the same day, we will feature striking headlines related to England from Turkish newspapers published from past to present, and documents reflecting the memory of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Thus, we will bring the historical journey of Turkish-British relations on the media and diplomatic fronts to visitors. Today, media is one of the most powerful tools of public diplomacy. Journalists bear significant responsibilities in ensuring countries recognize each other correctly, societies understand each other better, and misconceptions are dispelled. As the Global Journalists Council, in our international activities, we regard journalism not merely as a news production activity, but as a strong communication platform that fosters dialogue between countries and societies. The main purpose of this gathering in London is to contribute to Turkey's international visibility, its accurate representation, and our country's public diplomacy efforts through the media. At the same time, we attach importance to the Turkish diaspora creating a stronger, more visible, and more effective media communication network in the countries where they reside. We journalists cannot claim to solve problems between countries alone; however, we can contribute to understanding each other more accurately, to different societies getting to know each other more closely, and to coming together around common values. We believe that the exhibition and awards ceremony we will hold in London will add new value to the media dimension of the deep-rooted relations between Turkey and the United Kingdom and contribute to the development of friendship between the peoples of the two countries.

Thanks to Supporters

Dim thanked those who contributed effort and support to the London event. He conveyed his thanks to United Kingdom Representative Vatan Öz, and to Konya Metropolitan Municipality, Keçiören Municipality, and Sarıçam Municipality for their sponsorship support. He also thanked Alanya Promotion Foundation (ALTAV), Alanya Touristic Hoteliers Association (ALTİD), Eftelia Hotels, EsteWorld, and MUSIAD London.