The 11^th Annual Meeting of the Black Sea Broadcasting Regulatory Authorities Forum (BRAF), led by The Radio & Television Supreme Council, was hosted by the Azerbaijan Audiovisual Authority (ACRA) in Baku on April 14-16, 2025.

High-level representatives from media regulatory authorities of Turkey, Albania, Bulgaria, Georgia, Moldova, Romania, Serbia, and Greece participated in the meeting organized under the main theme of “Protecting Children in Broadcasting Services.”

At the forum, where regional cooperation and joint strategies were discussed, two separate panels addressed topics such as the legal framework for protecting children in the media, media literacy, and parental control. During the meeting, where member countries shared recent developments in the field of media, it was decided that the 12th Annual Meeting would be hosted by the Albanian Audiovisual Media Authority (AMA) in the fall of 2025.

RTÜK Members Dr. Deniz Güçer, İlhan Taşcı, Nurullah Öztürk and Vice President Deniz Güler as well as Supreme Council Experts attended the meeting.

Dr. Deniz Güçer: “Representation of Children in Media Must Be Approached Carefully”

In the opening speech of the meeting, BRAF Secretary General and The Radio & Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) Member Dr. Deniz Güçer stated that children's easy access to information in today’s media environment presents both opportunities and serious risks. She particularly highlighted the negative effects of content featured in TV series, advertisements, news, and daytime programs on children’s mental and physical health.

"How our children are represented in the media is very important. Broadcasts about them or their relatives should avoid detailed images that could negatively impact their today and future," said Dr. Güçer, emphasizing that cooperation plays a key role in strengthening mechanisms for protecting children in broadcasting.

Dr. Güçer noted that the thematic panel concept, which was launched last year, continued this year as well and within this framework stated that, topics such as the representation of children in the media, content safety, and the protection of their rights were discussed.

İsmat Sattorov: “Baku, a Meeting Point of Shared Values”

In his opening speech, İsmat Sattorov, Chairman of the Audiovisual Media Authority of Azerbaijan and host of the meeting, emphasized Azerbaijan’s deep-rooted historical and cultural ties with countries in the region. He stated that enhancing mutual cooperation in the field of media would further strengthen strategic relations among countries and noted that BRAF offers an important platform in this regard.

Sattorov extended special thanks to the large delegation from Turkey and highlighted the key role of RTÜK in making the forum possible, particularly acknowledging the contributions of RTÜK Member Dr. Deniz Güçer. Recalling the success of the 10th meeting held in Antalya, he expressed his confidence that this year’s meeting would achieve a similar level of success.

Kavakcı: “Regional Solidarity Continues to Grow Stronger”

Representing the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC), Ambassador Dr. Merve Safa Kavakcı, First Deputy Secretary General of the Permanent International Secretariat (PERMIS), stated in her speech that BRAF is an important sectoral partner for BSEC and contributes concretely to cooperation in the region.

“BRAF and its Secretariat can always count on our support during both current and future presidencies,” said Kavakcı, emphasizing BSEC’s commitment to strengthening regional cooperation in all areas.

Presentation by RTÜK Vice President Deniz Güler

Speaking at the panel on “Protecting Children in Broadcasting Services” held as part of the forum, RTÜK Vice President Deniz Güler provided an overview of the media landscape in Turkey. Sharing data on licensing numbers and media usage, Güler also informed participants about RTÜK’s efforts to protect children from harmful media content.

He informed BRAF members on key initiatives such as media literacy projects, public service announcements, the smart signs system, and broadcast monitoring. Güler emphasized that more effective solutions can be developed through cooperation.

Forum Concluded with Cultural Programs
The panel discussions, presentations, and cultural events featured at the forum provided opportunities to further enhance information exchange and cooperation among the participating countries.