Near East College Social Responsibility Club students were taken on a trip to Cyprus Turkish Journalism Union so as to promote interest in newspapers in students.

According to the press release issued by the Directorate of Press and Public Relations of Near East University, Representative Chair Mustafa Kortun, Education Secretary of Cyprus Turkish Journalists Union Engin Dervişağa and Cyprus Turkish Journalists Union Foreign Affairs Chair Dilek Öncül Kodan informed the Near East College students about the foundation of the union and works carried out during the visit.

In addition to the above, the students were mentioned that there were a total of 20 newspapers in Northern Cyprus and added that, once considering the structure of the country, this was not very ‘healthy’. The students asked questions regarding the freedom of press in the country and around the globe; and provided with a comparison of the various levels of freedom across different countries, including our own.

In order for children to realise and raise their awareness’ that they are a part of the community which they are living in, they must develop the habit of reading newspapers…
Principal of Near East College Asım İdris, made a statement regarding the trip and expressed that students are encouraged to develop a habit of reading newspapers. He explained that this would help their awareness’ on up-to-date issues and a sense of belonging to the community in which they are living in. He emphasised how significant it was to develop the students’ awareness’.

He added that newspapers were sources of contemporary issues around one’s environment and contributed to the communication among a family’s members. Moreover, he stated that the students were likely to follow their parents’ reading habits and in fact caused youngsters to be included in ‘adult talk’.

Furthermore, Principal of Near East College Asım İdris stressed his belief on how beneficial the trip had been to the Near East College students and also offered a chance for students to make links with the past and the future. Also, an opportunity for students to improve their reading, speech, writing, comprehension and listening skills; alongside critical thinking and problem-solving skills. He ended his words by stating that they would be organising similar events to encourage the development of communal issues.