Bir Kamu Diplomasisi Aracı Olarak TRT Avaz ve Milliyetçilik

The greatest way for countries to have a voice in the international arena and achieve their objectives is to gain over not only the governments of the rival countries but also their citizens in today's world where communication technologies are constantly evolving. Public diplomacy activities must be carried out professionally accordingly. When it comes to communication and public opinion, naturally, the mass media has a crucial role in the process. Television channels are also one of the most efficient forms of mass media in countries' diplomacy activities. This study intends to reveal the role and the broadcast strategy of the channel TRT Avaz in Turkey's public diplomacy activities directed at Central Asia and the Caucasus. The broadcast stream of the channel between January 6th and February 6th, 2020, is addressed in this direction. Content in the broadcast stream is classified into eight different categories, primarily based on the program classification of the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTUK), the channel's broadcast strategy and the question of the study. Then, the language of the contents screened, their general formats, whether they are the channel's original content, and which messages dominate in these contents are discussed. In addition, any part of the content between January 6th and February 6th, 2020 that is thought to reflect the broadcast strategy has been subject to an explanatory review. Thus, this study attempts to understand what type of broadcasting strategy TRT Avaz employs, in the process of developing relations between Turkey and the target geography. As a result of the study, it is discovered that TRT Avaz attempts to bring the shared Turkish identity into view of the target geography through a nationalist broadcasting policy and to create a positive perception of Turkey. Furthermore, it is emphasized that the channel conveys Turkey's foreign policy theses to the target geography and broadcasts programs that will create various types of economic relations between Turkey and the target geography.