10/05/2024 | Writer: Meriç Olcay
At the Kaos GL Media School, Yıldız Tar discussed fundamental principles of journalism and addressed the prevalent issue of hate speech and discriminatory language targeting LGBTI+s in both mainstream and alternative media.
The Kaos GL Media School took place in Ankara on Saturday, May 4th. Attendees, including individuals from various universities and professions, were briefed on fundamental journalism principles and the prevalent issue of hate speech and discriminatory language targeting LGBTI+s across mainstream and alternative media platforms. The event, led by Yıldız Tar, spanned four hours and provided valuable insights into these topics.
Yıldız Tar commenced the Media School with an overview on history of journalism and interpersonal communication. Engaging the participants, Tar prompted discussions on recent news consumption and the evolving nature of news production and consumption habits. Delving deeper, Tar explored the concept of “objectivity” in journalism, sparking debates on its feasibility and proposing strategies for achieving it. Transitioning to the essentials of effective news writing, Tar outlined key elements and criteria for crafting “good” news stories. In the second session, Tar meticulously analyzed Kaos GL’s 2023 Media Monitoring Report with the participants, providing valuable insights into media portrayal and coverage of LGBTI+ issues.
Tar highlighted findings from the Media Monitoring Report, revealing that approximately 69 percent of the nearly four thousand written news articles contain hate speech targeting LGBTI+ community. Moreover, Tar noted that the media disproportionately focuses on reporting hate crimes against the LGBTI+ community, with discriminatory expressions prevalent in such coverage. Following the presentation of these research results, participants engaged in an analysis of headlines featuring LGBTI+s in print media, exploring the content and discourse within these news articles.
In the final session of the Media School, participants engaged in a practical exercise where they analyzed a news article involving LGBTI+s. They identified and discussed the discriminatory language and hate speech present in the article, then exchanged ideas on how they would approach writing the piece themselves, aiming for a more inclusive and respectful tone. The Media School concluded with a collective hope for a decrease in hate speech, which has seen a concerning rise in both printed and digital news sources, and for the adoption of a news language that is genuinely inclusive of LGBTI+ community.
Tags: media, education
