nm-History
History
In 2004, a decision was made to establish a traditional-digital media production center within the Faculty of Communication at Kadir Has University, operating under the direct supervision of the Rector. The center’s name was jointly determined by Rector Yücel Yılmaz, journalist and producer of the Pusula news program Mithat Bereket, and his brother Özer Bereket. The center commenced its operations in July 2004 under the title Pusula Academy.
In collaboration with students, the center engaged in content production not only within the classroom but also across emerging fields such as mobile communication and online journalism. For example, they developed Turkey’s first multimedia-based (MMS) visual news service in partnership with Turkcell. Additionally, in cooperation with AVEA—another mobile operator at the time—they initiated campaign-driven content projects such as “Çek, Gönder, Yayınlayalım”. These endeavors represented significant innovations in the new media landscape of that period.
These production practices and evolving approaches to media conceptualization laid the groundwork for the establishment of a new academic department within the faculty. The initiative was spearheaded by İsmail Hakkı Polat, Mithat Bereket, and Özer Bereket, who dedicated considerable effort to the development of the curriculum and the submission of the program proposal to the Turkish Higher Education Council (YÖK).
The proposed name “New Media” initially sparked debate at both the university and YÖK levels. Although the program was initially rejected due to its unprecedented nature within the national context, the eventual approval of the New Media Department by YÖK was largely attributable to the efforts and credibility of esteemed journalist Mithat Bereket, who played an active role in the presentation process. The department, officially established in 2009, became the first in Turkey to be founded under the name “New Media.”
The department’s founding chair was Prof. Dr. Murat Akser. He was subsequently succeeded by Dr. Çiğdem Bozdağ, Dr. Eylem Yanardağoğlu, and Dr. Aylin Sunam Audry. As of January 2025, the department has been chaired by Dr. Gözde Cöbek. Beginning in 2025, the department adopted its new name: Department of New Media and Communication.
The department’s founding story is personally recounted by İsmail Hakkı Polat.
Mission
New media refers to the rapidly evolving communication tools that have emerged as a result of the convergence between information technologies, communication networks, and the media industry—such as websites, news portals, search engines, blogs, wikis, and social media platforms developed over the internet and mobile networks. Today, traditional media outlets such as newspapers, radio, and television increasingly tend to operate in an integrated manner through new media platforms. This transformation underscores the critical importance of expertise in the field of new media.
As the first academic department established in this field, our Department of New Media and Communication aims to equip students with the ability to understand the unique platforms of digital and mobile communication, develop data-driven communication strategies, and produce content tailored to these channels.
Within our program, we train individuals who can take on key roles in an increasingly digitalized world, who are capable of anticipating and adapting to communication- and technology-based transformations, and who are grounded in both professional competencies and universal values.