Objectives

Cooperation in information and media has always been a key focus for the Organization of Turkic States (OTS). To enhance partnerships among Member States in this vital area, the OTS organizes annual meetings for Ministers and High Officials responsible for information and media. Furthermore, the Organization facilitates working groups, coordination committees, and regular seminars, trainings, and forums that feature experts from the media and information sectors.

Mechanisms

Ministerial Meetings and Working Groups

• The 3rd Meeting of the Ministers and High Officials in charge of Information and Media along with the 8th Meeting of the Working Group was held on 9-10 April in Baku. 
• The 4th Meeting of the Ministers and High Officials in charge of Media and Information and the 9th Meeting of the Working Group on Media and Information was hosted by the Directorate of Communications of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye on 14 May 2022 in Istanbul.
• The First Meeting of Audio-Visual Media Regulators of the Organization of Turkic States took place in Baku and Shusha on 27-28 October 2022, featuring the participation of audiovisual media regulatory authorities from Member and Observer States of the OTS.
• The 5th Meeting of the Ministers and High Officials in Charge of Media and Information and the 10th Meeting of the Working Group on Media and Information convened on 17 October 2023 in Bishkek.
• The 6th Ministerial Meeting on Media and Information of the OTS is scheduled to take place on 17-20 December 2024 in Tashkent.

Coordination Committee

• The 1st Meeting of the Media Coordination Committee of the Organization of Turkic States was held on 29-30 July 2021 in Istanbul, the Republic of Türkiye.
• The 2nd Meeting of the OTS Media Coordination Committee took place on 27 October 2022 in Baku and Shusha, the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Seminars and Trainings

• The OTS Social Media Training Program, hosted by the Directorate of Communications of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye, took place on 29-30 July 2021 in Istanbul and was attended by approximately 100 participants from Member and Observer States.
• The seminar “Information Services 2024: National and Foreign Experience, Future Prospects” was held by the Agency of Information and Mass Communication under the Administration of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan from 26-31 May 2024 in Tashkent and Samarkand, with participation from press secretaries and media representatives of relevant ministries and agencies from OTS Member States.

Media Forums and Summits

• The OTS Media Forum, themed “Deep-rooted Past, Strong Future,” was held in Istanbul from 22-24 October 2021, attracting over 500 participants, including prominent media representatives, academics, social media influencers, and students from Member and Observer States.
• Shusha Global Media Forum on the theme "New Media in the Era of the 4th Industrial Revolution" was held on 21 July 2023 in Shusha with the participation of the Secretary General of the OTS.
• Turkic News Agencies Media Summit on Alliance in Media and Vision for Future was held on 6 November 2023 in Istanbul.

Framework

Action plan

At the 3rd Meeting of the Ministers and High Officials in charge of Information and Media on 9-10 April 2021 in Baku, the Parties approved the “Action Plan for 2021-2022” to enhance cooperation and established a Media Coordination Committee to oversee its implementation and the relevant decisions of the Heads of States and Ministers.

Contact Group was established on the basis of the national TV channels, consisting of technical, financial, news programs specialists which concentrate on education, culture, sport and news themes in order to accelerate the process of exchanging of information and creating joint projects.

Agreements

As a result of the 2nd Media Coordination Committee Meeting of the OTS, parties updated each other on the establishment of the Turkic News Agencies Union (ATNA). Founded on 6 November 2023, in Istanbul, ATNA includes five founding members from Turkic states: Azertac from Azerbaijan, Anadolu from Türkiye, Kabar from Kyrgyzstan, Qazcontent from Kazakhstan, and Uza from Uzbekistan.

The alliance aims to foster collaboration in news gathering and ensure the dissemination of accurate information concerning Turkic countries and broader global affairs.

Projects

The Heads of Delegation further discussed the establishment of an International Turkic News Channel, increasing the capacity and quality of visual exchange between national broadcasters, creating of the common association of journalists and arranging joint training of the spokespersons and press advisors of the official institutions of the Member and Observer States.

At the meeting Parties updated each other on the establishment of the Turkic News Agencies Union, exchanged views and comments on the draft regulation for the establishment of the “Association of Journalists of the Organization of Turkic States” as well agreed to organize training programs for media professionals/Joint training of the spokespersons/press secretaries of the Ministries in the upcoming period.