Can Bekcan

Education

• PhD Candidate In Progress

  Communication and Media Studies

  Eastern Mediterranean University

• Master's Degree 2017

  Communication and Media Studies

  Eastern Mediterranean University

• Bachelor's Degree 2010

  Radio, TV & Cinema

  Eastern Mediterranean University

Honors & Fellowships

• 2022 2014

  Master's Research Scholarship and Full Tuition Fee Scholarship | Eastern Mediterranean University

  • Master's program's entirety and Doctoral program's course phase encompassing, comprehensive and merit-based full tuition fee exemption along with master's scholarship is awarded.
  • This scholarship is awarded simultaneously with a formal appointment as a Research and Teaching Assistant.

Academic Appointments

• Continuing 2022

  Senior Lecturer

  Eastern Mediterranean University

  YMGA103: Social Media and Communication

  • Mainstream social media platforms' sociological, cultural and political impacts are examined, along with changing mass participation patterns and digital ecosystem dynamics.
  • Students are taught to analyze user-generated content, understand platform-specific viral trends and critically evaluate the role of algorithmic curation in shaping modern public discourse.

Publications

Conference Presentations

Academic / University Services

• Present 2014

  Academic Mentorship | EMU Faculty of Communication and Media Studies

  • Provided academic guidance and career mentorship to high-achieving undergraduate students, facilitating industry internships and ongoing technical advisory.
  • Supervised independent student projects and national competition submissions; integrated students into the faculty newspaper (EMU Gündem) editorial team to bridge classroom theory with hands-on newsroom practice.
• 2021 2017

  Editorial Secretary | Kadın/Woman 2000

  • Managed publication workflows, conducted preliminary reviews of submitted manuscripts, and facilitated communication between authors, editors, and peer reviewers.
  • Administered the technical installation, configuration, and ongoing operations of the Open Journal Systems (OJS) platform.
• 2021 2017

  Executive Board Member | Center of Research and Communication for Peace

  • Co-organized the 5th International Conference in Communication and Media Studies; coordinated paper submissions, event logistics, and technical web operations.
  • Supervised the comprehensive design, editorial compilation, and publication pipeline of the official conference proceedings book.

Projects

• Present 2021

  BEKCAN Institute

  • Established and leading an independent, open-access academic research institute dedicated to advancing scholarly visibility, open science practices, and high-impact academic communication.
  • Uniting cross-disciplinary scholars to foster rigorous peer review, collaborative academic dialogue, and noise-free algorithmic ethics research within a verified digital ecosystem.
• Present 2018

  Give Me a Reason (Bana Bir Sebep Ver)

  • Founded and developed a progressive online student community and independent multimedia platform designed to support aspiring writers, visual creators, and digital storytellers.
  • Managed the network's digital infrastructure and editorial framework, providing collaborative spaces for users to share ideas, publish critiques, and engage in meaningful social discourse.
• Present 2021

  Save The Planet

  • A grassroots civic movement created to foster sustainable living and fulfill environmental responsibilities within society.
  • Distilling simple, actionable ecological practices from authoritative research to cultivate a cleaner environment for future generations.
• Present 2022

  Social Media Monitoring & Data Mining

  • Conducting data mining, streaming track pipelines, and algorithmic sentiment analysis across social media platforms for academic research.
  • Training participating student researchers in R programming and practical computational data mining techniques.
• Present 2018

  Media Ownership Structure in North Cyprus

  • Investigating corporate structures and ownership concentration across traditional and digital media organizations in North Cyprus.
  • Contributing to public transparency and press accountability through computational data mining, ownership maps, and infographics.
• Present 2015

  Open Library & Book Sharing

  • Promoting reading culture and establishing shared community bookcases.
  • Facilitating open access to knowledge and literature through book donation and rotational circulation drives.
• Present 2015

  Historical Postcard Collection

  • Digitizing historical and cultural postcards collected from diverse geographic regions worldwide.
  • Curating an open visual memory archive documenting urban architectural evolution and socio-cultural transformations.

Professional / Industry Experience

• Present 2022

  Communication Specialist | Freelance

  • Developed and executed data-driven digital communication strategies, social media campaigns, and brand identity solutions for corporate clients and independent initiatives.
  • Analyzed audience engagement metrics and platform algorithms to optimize digital content distribution, maximizing online visibility and organic reach.
• 2025 2023

  Editor-in-Chief | Cyprus Dive Magazine

  • Directed the editorial vision, content strategy, and multi-platform publishing cadence; coordinated a team of contributing writers, photographers, and graphic designers.
  • Managed end-to-end production pipelines including copyediting, visual curation, layout design, and digital distribution while upholding strict editorial and ethical standards.
• 2022 2019

  Editor-in-Chief | EMU Gündem Newspaper

  • Directed daily newsroom operations and editorial strategy for the university's official publication, leading a dynamic team of student reporters and photojournalists.
  • Mentored aspiring journalists in breaking news reporting, investigative journalism, page layout design, and compliance with professional media ethics.
• 2014 2012

  Project Manager | Agency CBC Media Services

  • Supervised multimedia production, digital marketing, and corporate advertising initiatives from conceptual design to client delivery.
  • Coordinated cross-functional creative teams, managed client accounts, and optimized production budgets to ensure on-time delivery across all project milestones.
• 2012 2011

  Camera Operator | LineTV

  • Operated professional broadcast cameras and lighting systems for live television broadcasts, studio recordings, and fast-paced field reporting.
  • Collaborated with directors and news producers to maintain visual excellence, dynamic framing, and technical broadcast compliance.
• 2011 2011

  Producer | Bidolu TV

  • Conceptualized, budgeted, and scheduled digital video series and entertainment programming tailored for emerging online streaming audiences.
  • Managed pre-production research, talent casting, script coordination, and post-production workflows to deliver engaging web-native media.
• 2011 2011

  Video Editor | 35mm Studio Services

  • Performed professional non-linear video editing, multi-track audio mixing, and color grading for commercial productions and short-form media.
  • Maintained structured digital asset libraries and delivered optimized master exports compliant with broadcast and digital delivery specifications.

Services & Professional Memberships

• Present 2016

  Individual Member

  Project AWARE

• 2021 2017

  Executive Board Member

  Center of Research and Communication for Peace

• 2014 2004

  Individual Member

  Greenpeace

• 2012 2011

  Member

  Contemporary Journalists Association (ÇGD Bursa Branch)

• 2003 2002

  Board Member

  Bursa Cinema Association

• 2002 2001

  Board Member

  Bursa City Council Youth Assembly

Additional Skills / Certificates

• Present 2016

  IDC Staff Instructor

  PADI

Languages

•    Turkish (Native)
•    English (Advanced) [Professional Working Proficiency]
•    French (Beginner)