YENİ MEDYA ve KAMU DİPLOMASİSİ AKTÖRÜ OLARAK BYEGM

In today's world, one of the features which renders information stronger is its being a commodity. Traditional structures have been replaced by the new ones. Prior to the formation of every concept, a convergence (integration/affinity) followed by a transformation takes place. We witness the best example of it in our daily lives. Telephone,the most important communication means in our lives, has started to be replaced by email and SMS; newspapers, which we delight in touching, are replaced by e-journals; banknotes, a symbol of power, are replaced by electronic cash and funds and petitions submitted to the public offices are replaced by electronic forms. The most important actor of our age, which is called as the Information Age, is the "information" itself without any doubt. Bearing in mind that considering these developments as a torture or as a blessing is a personal judgment, it is necessary to underline the importance of the technologies which make these services possible. Today, the world is undergoing radical chances in a great number of areas. Countries, institutions, organizations and individuals are seeking ways to adapt themselves to these changes. Directorate General of Press and Information (DGPI), a very deeprooted institution in Turkey, is also exerting efforts to keep pace with the new age's changes and developments. As a government agency aware of its responsibilities and duties, DGPI has adopted a proactive service concept in order to reinforce its stance in this transformation and development atmosphere not only in Turkey but also in the international arena. In this study, "New Media and Public Diplomacy" concepts, which are the most important components of the Information Age, are examined in a general manner by taking the DGPI as a case study.