Harb, ZaheraHellmueller, LeaAlrmizan, Mohammed2026-04-292026Alrmizan, M. (2026). Turkish international media the TRT between political communication and public diplomacy [Doctoral dissertation, City St George’s, University of London]. City Research Online.https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14154/78815Despite the global proliferation of international media networks in the 21st century, scholarly attention remains disproportionately focused on the Global North. This thesis addresses this gap by analysing the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT), specifically TRT Arabi and TRT World, as primary instruments of Turkish statecraft. Grounded in theories of political communication—notably public diplomacy and neo-Ottomanism—the research investigates how these outlets function as strategic tools for foreign policy projection. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the study triangulates quantitative content analysis, qualitative textual analysis, and in-depth interviews with journalists and editors. This methodology provides a comprehensive view of both the 'output' (the news) and the 'intent' (the institutional role). The analysis focuses on coverage of four pivotal Middle Eastern events: Turkish military operations in northern Syria and Iraq, the Sheikh Jarrah incidents in Jerusalem, and the Gulf Crisis. The findings demonstrate that TRT Arabi and TRT World align closely with Turkish foreign policy objectives, utilising specific messaging strategies to mirror the state’s diplomatic agenda. By developing a distinct voice through localised terminology and curated narratives, these networks successfully project Turkey’s perspective to a global audience. Furthermore, interview data reveals a complex internal dynamic: while some staff express dissatisfaction with content constraints, there is a general consensus that TRT serves as a vital vehicle for representing state interests and offering a necessary alternative to Western-centric news paradigms. Ultimately, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of how emerging powers in the Global South utilise international broadcasting to navigate and influence the contemporary geopolitical landscape.322enTurkish mediaDiplomacyTRTMiddle EastArab WorldPolitical CommunicationThesis