A delegation from the Global Journalists Council (GJC) has arrived in London for the 2nd International Media Friendship Awards and the “Turkey–London Relations” archival exhibition. The delegation, comprising around 30 prominent Turkish journalists, arrived in the capital on the evening of 29 September.
The delegation was welcomed at their hotel by Vatan Öz, GJC United Kingdom Representative, before travelling to Kervan Southgate, one of London’s well-known restaurants, for a friendship dinner hosted by Avrupa Media Group.
The dinner, hosted by Vatan Öz, brought members of the GJC delegation together ahead of their London programme. The journalists exchanged views and held informal discussions before the evening programme concluded.
London programme on 30 September
The second day of the GJC delegation’s London programme includes a reception hosted by Turkish Ambassador to the United Kingdom Osman Koray Ertaş in honour of the delegation.
Following the reception, the delegation will meet representatives of the Turkish diaspora in London, Turkish-origin parliamentarians and members of the media. The programme will also include visits to historic and tourist areas of the capital, with stops planned in Knightsbridge and Covent Garden.
Awards ceremony and exhibition on 1 October
The main event of the London programme will be the 2nd International Media Friendship Awards, to be held at Arundel House on Thursday, 1 October 2026, from 10.00am to 1.00pm.
The programme will begin with the “Turkey–London Relations” archival exhibition and conclude with an awards ceremony highlighting cultural diplomacy initiatives and media engagement between Türkiye and the United Kingdom.
The inaugural International Media Friendship Awards were held at the Turkish House in New York in September 2025. The London event will be the second edition of the initiative.
The delegation will return to Türkiye on 2 October following the exhibition and awards ceremony.
30-member delegation
The GJC delegation includes Keçiören Mayor Dr Mesut Özarslan, Sarıçam Mayor Bilal Uludağ, Alanya Municipality Foreign Relations Director Nazmi Uyar and veteran journalist and writer Yavuz Donat as an honorary guest.
The delegation also includes Anadolu Agency Deputy General Manager Oğuz Karakaş; GJC President Mehmet Ali Dim; Vice President Nevzat Çiçek of Independent Türkçe; Vice Presidents Savaş Çokduygulu of 5 Ocak, Nalan Yazgan of Cumhuriyet and Edip Üzen of memurlar.net.
Also attending are GJC Secretary General Lütfü Karakaş of Son Haber; Deputy Financial President Hayati Arıgan of Dünya; Assembly Chairs Özgenur Reyhan Güler of TV 24 – National Media and İshad Eyvazlı of Media Türk – Foreign Media; board member Yunus Soner of TeleSUR TV; Deputy Assembly Chair Ahmet Coşkunaydın of Aydınlık; Assembly member Nurcan Demirtaş of Hürriyet; GJC Austria Representative Adil Elmas of Avusturya Günlüğü; and GJC Slovakia Representative Kemal Değirmenci.
DIM: “Our aim is to serve our country”
GJC President Mehmet Ali Dim said the London event was intended to support public diplomacy and strengthen relations between Türkiye and the United Kingdom.
“Within the Global Journalists Council, we see this important gathering in London not merely as an awards ceremony or exhibition, but as a public diplomacy initiative that strengthens the communication and friendship bridges between Türkiye and the United Kingdom,” Dim said.
“As part of our event, we will present awards to Turkish diaspora journalists working in London and different parts of the United Kingdom, as well as British journalists who have contributed to Türkiye, the Turkish community and relations between the two countries. Through these awards, we want to draw attention to the contribution of journalism to developing mutual understanding between societies, reducing prejudices and strengthening friendships.”
Thanks to supporters
Dim also thanked the institutions and organisations that contributed to the London event.
“I would like to thank all those who have contributed their efforts and support to our London event, particularly our United Kingdom Representative Vatan Öz. I also extend my thanks to the institutions and organisations providing sponsorship support, including world-renowned Pentex of London, Konya Metropolitan Municipality, Keçiören Municipality and Sarıçam Municipality; Alanya Tourism Promotion Foundation (ALTAV), Alanya Tourism Operators Association (ALTİD), Eftelia Hotels, EsteWorld UK in London and MUSIAD UK; the London Kervan Restaurant Group, the London Ishtar Restaurant Group, Southgate Hotel London, UVA Cantina London, Cafer Erol London, and Enes Şanlı of Wickford Lux&Lush.”
GJC's international media activities
The Global Journalists Council, which has representatives in 88 countries and all 81 provinces of Türkiye, organises media meetings, panels and workshops internationally.
The GJC has previously held media events in Nicosia, Baku, Berlin, Tbilisi, Moscow and Tashkent. Last year, it organised an exhibition and awards ceremony in New York, United States.
The 2nd International Media Friendship Awards and the “Turkey–London Relations” archival exhibition in London will form part of the GJC’s programme of international events.
