Keynote Speakers

Prof. Dr. Thomas Hanitzsch

Prof. Dr. Thomas Hanitzsch is Professor of Communication in the Department of Media and Communication at LMU Munich. A former journalist, he teaches and conducts reseaonmine global journalism cultures, the transformation of journalism, comparative methodology, war coverage, mental health, and the changing professional conditions of journalists. He is an ICA Fellow and was President of the International Communication Association from 2025 to 2026.

Dr. Hanitzsch has played a prominent role in the international development of journalism studies as a field. He chaired the Journalism Studies sections of both the International Communication Association (ICA), from 2004 to 2006, and the European Communication Research and Education Association (ECREA), from 2010 to 2014. He also served as Editor-in-Chief of Communication Theory journal from 2011 to 2014.

His scholarly work is widely recognized for advancing comparative journalism research and for mapping how journalists across different political, cultural, and media systems understand their professional roles. He leads the Worlds of Journalism Study, a major multinational research project that regularly assesses journalists' professional views, working conditions, and the role of journalism in a changing world.

Among his most influential publications is Worlds of Journalism: Journalistic Cultures Around the Globe (Columbia University Press, 2019), a landmark comparative volume based on data from more than 27,500 journalists in 67 countries. The book analyzes how journalists around the world perceive their responsibilities, their relationship to society and government, and the meaning of their work.

Prof.Dr. Hanitzsch's academic profile reflects a sustained commitment to international, collaborative, and methodologically rigorous communication research. His work has contributed significantly to understanding journalism not as a single universal model, but as a set of diverse professional cultures shaped by local histories, institutions, political conditions, and global transformations. His research continues to inform debates on the future of journalism, media professionalism, public communication, and the role of journalists in democratic and rapidly changing societies.

Prof. Dr. Mustafa Halilsoy

Eastern Mediterranean University

Prof. Dr. Mustafa Halilsoy is a distinguished theoretical physicist whose academic career spans more than four decades of teaching, research, and scientific contributions, particularly in Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity, gravitational physics, and mathematical physics. He served as Professor of Physics for thirty years and continues to hold the honorary academic title of Distinguished Professor at Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) in Northern Cyprus.

Born on 25 February 1949 in the Paphos district of Cyprus, Professor Halilsoy pursued his higher education at Middle East Technical University (METU) in Ankara, Türkiye, where he obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Physics in 1973, followed by his Master of Science degree in 1975 and Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1978. During his doctoral studies, he conducted research at the University of Texas at Austin, where he encountered leading figures in theoretical physics, including the renowned physicist John Archibald Wheeler, whose contributions significantly shaped modern understandings of gravitation and spacetime.

Professor Halilsoy began his academic career at Middle East Technical University, where he held teaching and research positions before joining King Abdulaziz University in Saudi Arabia. During his years at King Abdulaziz University, he progressed through the academic ranks and became a full professor.

His scientific research primarily investigates the fundamental structure of spacetime, gravitational interactions, and the mathematical foundations of Einstein’s field equations. His areas of expertise include gravitational waves, black holes, wormholes, spacetime singularities, exact solutions in general relativity, cosmology, and higher-dimensional gravity.

With his extensive expertise in theoretical physics and longstanding engagement with questions about the fundamental nature of the universe, Professor Halilsoy brings a valuable scientific perspective to interdisciplinary discussions connecting physics, philosophy, epistemology, and contemporary understandings of knowledge and reality. His career exemplifies a sustained commitment to scientific inquiry, academic excellence, and the advancement of theoretical physics.

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