This recap was compiled by combining my Field Diary posts, calendar traces, and Diigo media links, using only AI tools (ChatGPT Deep Research and Claude.ai) to organize and summarize.

Erkan Saka – Personal Recap of 2025

Q1 2025 (Jan–Mar)

•       January: Wrapped up a month-long research program in Munich. Erkan participated in sessions at LMU’s Center for Advanced Studies, culminating in a workshop and plans for a policy paper.
•       February: Resumed a personal “unboxing” project, exploring old memorabilia after returning to Istanbul[1]. This reflective exercise dovetailed with Erkan’s academic insights, later inspiring a new blog series on academic life[2].
•       March: Continued teaching and laying groundwork for upcoming projects, with a quiet month focused on academia and preparation for a travel-heavy spring (no major public events this month).

Q2 2025 (Apr–Jun)

•       April: Kicked off intensive travels. In early April, Erkan attended a COST Action meeting in Wrocław, Poland, joining a European research network relevant to his agenda[3]. Mid-month, he led a media literacy training at Bozok University in Yozgat, Turkey[4]. These engagements were part of an EU-sponsored initiative against disinformation.
•       May (The “Long May” Tour): A whirlwind month of domestic and international trips:
•       May 1: Spoke at Dicle University in Diyarbakır on combating disinformation (as an EU delegation seminar)[5]. Despite being written later from Ankara, this marked “First Stop” of a planned travel marathon.
•       May 4: Ankara (Second Stop): Co-hosted a workshop with partner Sinem on using technology for civil society, meeting NGO activists and tech experts.
•       May 9: Trabzon (Third Stop): Visited Trabzon University for another disinformation training. The local hospitality stood out – he even received a Trabzonspor jersey as a memento[6].
•       May 17: Vienna (Fourth Stop): Attended a two-day academic workshop of the EASA Media Anthropology Network in Vienna. Erkan returned intellectually energized, reconnecting with international colleagues in media anthropology.
•       May 28: Gaziantep (Fifth Stop): Concluded the EU Disinformation Training program at Gaziantep University on Europe Day[7]. He also joined a Europe Day reception at the famed Zeugma Mosaic Museum, coincidentally visiting family stationed in Gaziantep[7].
•       May 31: Boston, MA: Capped off the marathon with a nostalgic visit to MIT in Cambridge for “Fischerfest, an alumni event. Sitting at a café by the MIT Museum, Erkan reminisced about his PhD days and reunited with professors who had mentored him years ago[8]. (He even penned a blog note – posted a few weeks later – bidding “Goodbye NY” as the long May journey came to an end[9][10].)
•       June: Recovery and reflection. After the travel frenzy, Erkan settled back in Istanbul. He launched a new blog series titled “Thoughts on Academic Life” to distill lessons from his 20+ years in academia[2]. Episode 1, “The Performance of Transparency,” went live on June 22[11]. This period also involved catching up on supervising theses and academic duties put on pause during May[12].

Q3 2025 (Jul–Sep)

•       July: Summer in Istanbul brought both heat and personal downtime. On July 24, during a record-hot day, Erkan opted to stay in his air-conditioned office (venturing out only for a family friend’s funeral the next day)[13]. A bright spot came on July 29, when he achieved a long-sought gaming milestone – winning a Civilization VII game on “Deity” difficulty after ~408 hours of play. This small victory provided a fun respite from academic work.
•       August: A mix of family, hobbies, and media projects:
•       Early August, Erkan and his extended family held their annual retreat in Sapanca (Kırkpınar). Organized by his sisters, the gathering allowed the Saka family to relax by Lake Sapanca – a cherished tradition mainly for the sake of their parents[14].
•       Erkan revived his dormant SosyalKafa web show with two new episodes. On Aug 8, he and co-host Sinem streamed an update on “academic AI tools,” discussing how AI (like ChatGPT) assists research and education (with an English summary provided)[15]. A few days later, on Aug 11, they aired an interview with Furkan Şahin about Seren Ay, Turkey’s first virtual AI influencer, exploring ethics and trends in influencer culture.
•       On Aug 13, Erkan shared an impressive digital milestone: his contributions to Google Maps (photos and reviews) surpassed 300 million views, reflecting his enthusiasm for mapping and local guides[16].
•       At the end of August, Erkan traveled with his parents to his ancestral hometown Bayburt in Northeast Turkey for a cousin’s wedding. Amid the “wedding drama,” he seized the chance to explore local heritage sites – notably visiting the ruins of Varzahan Monastery, an ancient Armenian church complex[17]. The trip was nostalgic: he revisited the village house his grandfather built in the 1960s (now unfortunately abandoned) and reconnected briefly with relatives[18]. (Sinem was ill and missed this trip, so it became a father–mother–son journey)[19].
•       September: Back to academia. Erkan started the fall semester at İstanbul Bilgi University, where he serves as a Professor of Media and Journalism (and coordinator of the PhD program)[20]. He updated his Digital Anthropology course syllabus with fresh readings to keep students current[21]. September also saw Erkan juggling editorial duties: he reminded contributors about two upcoming book projects he’s co-editing (one on Data Politics in the Global South and another on Algorithmic Mediations)[22][23], both spinoffs from his doctoral seminars. By month’s end, chapter submissions were in, setting the stage for new publications in 2026.

Q4 2025 (Oct–Dec)

•       October: Erkan continued his blog-driven scholarship and personal interests. He published Thoughts on Academic Life (Episode 2): “The Theater of Scholarly Collegiality”[24], further dissecting university culture and bureaucracy. Balancing work with leisure, he also shared book and music recommendations – for example, praising Bernardine Evaristo’s novel “Girl, Woman, Other,” which deeply moved him[25], and highlighting an Iranian metal band, Confess, for its bold protest lyrics[26].
•       November: A hectic month with conferences, media appearances, and personal reflection:
•       Early November, Erkan helped convene the STS (Science and Technology Studies) Turkey 2025 Conference. As a founding organizer of the STS Türkiye network, he expressed pride in another productive annual meeting in Istanbul[27]. Right after, he led a training session at Anadolu Agency’s academy, noting in his blog that the week had been “so hectic” but rewarding[28]. By the weekend, he indulged in some well-earned rest and blogging at home.
•       On Nov 14, Erkan penned an unusually candid personal post titled “Life is a bitch… and it moves in cycles.” He reflected on a difficult summer’s end, referencing recurring family issues and admitting this year’s summer did “not end well”. Despite the somber tone, writing about it was cathartic and marked a rare, deeply personal entry in his Field Diary.
•       Mid-month, Erkan’s expertise was recognized in national media. Hürriyet Daily News quoted him in a piece about Zohran Mamdani’s surprise NYC mayoral campaign victory – Erkan commented on the effective use of digital outreach and memes in Mamdani’s grassroots strategy[29]. Around the same time, he spoke as a panelist at a RESAID project event in Istanbul, discussing “Information Disorders in the Age of AI and Algorithms.” This EU-funded project even developed online games about disinformation, and Erkan’s panel interventions (covered by Anadolu Agency) underscored the challenges of AI-driven misinformation.
•       In late November, he mentored students in an EELISA Bootcamp on AI and disinformation at Istanbul Technical University. Serving as a facilitator, he even prepared a handy AI–Disinformation Glossary for participants[30]. The week was hectic, leaving Erkan resting indoors by the weekend, but the experience contributed to his ongoing work on AI literacy.
•       November also brought the third and fourth installments of his academic life blog series. He critiqued academia’s obsession with journal rankings in “The Q1 Journal Fetish” (Episode 3)[31] and lampooned university bureaucracy in “The Administrator Problem” (Episode 4)[32] – both striking chords with fellow academics.
•       December: The year concluded on a high note professionally. On Dec 18, Erkan announced his new publication – a concise entry titled “Big Tech and Gender” in the SAGE International Encyclopedia of Politics and Gender. This piece analyzes Big Tech’s gender inequalities, from workforce bias to algorithmic discrimination[33]. He proudly shared the full text on his blog[34], adding to his growing list of 2025 publications.
•       As an editor, Erkan saw through the release of an edited volume on Generative AI in culture (published by IGI Global in late 2024, with 2025 copyright). He had spent much of the year coordinating this book project, bridging global perspectives on AI myths and realities[35]. By year’s end the hefty 592-page book was out, solidifying Erkan’s role at the forefront of digital culture studies.
•       He also continued writing commentary on technology and society. For instance, on Dec 13 he compiled a “Generative AI and Higher Education” op-ed digest, arguing that academia’s woes predate AI hype[36]. And after Istanbul was reported as the world’s most congested city of 2024, Erkan couldn’t resist a post saying “I knew it!” – recalling Los Angeles traffic and reflecting on urban planning.
•       In academia service, Erkan helped announce the STS Türkiye Winter School 2026 (to be held in January in Ankara). The program “STS101” was publicized in late December, with Erkan listed among the organizers of this national workshop for young scholars[37]. [Unfortunately, this is cancelled due to logistics]
•       Finally, in the last days of 2025, Erkan published Thoughts on Academic Life (Episode 5): “The University Rankings Game.” He humorously dissected global university rankings and even appended a compiled list of major rankings (courtesy of AI tools Claude and Perplexity)[38]. This series, launched in mid-year, thus reached five parts – a testament to Erkan’s reflective mood in 2025.

Additional Highlights and Ongoing Passions

•       Reading: Throughout 2025 Erkan remained an avid reader. His Goodreads Year in Books summary (2025) shows dozens of books consumed, ranging from fiction to academic non-fiction. He shared a few favorites on his blog – aside from Evaristo’s novel, he recommended the novella “The Halfway House” by Guillermo Rosales (a “heart-wrenching” tale set in a Miami home)[39] and a quirky classic “Politically Correct Bedtime Stories” by James Finn Garner for some comic relief.
•       SosyalKafa & Social Media: Erkan’s SosyalKafa YouTube channel and podcast continued to blend his academic and pop-culture interests. The revived streams in August on AI tools and virtual influencers updated his audience on tech trends[15]. He also maintained an active LinkedIn presence, sharing blog posts and achievements (for example, announcing his role in the Global HR Summit on AI literacy)[40]. On Bluesky and other platforms, he engaged in discussions on free expression and internet culture, consistent with his ethos since his blogging start in 2004.
•       Professional Status: In 2025, Erkan Saka solidified his standing as a leading new media academic in Turkey. He serves as a Professor at Istanbul Bilgi University and is noted as one of the authoritative voices in digital anthropology and media studies[20]. His Google Scholar profile crossed 1,500 citations. Ever the multitasker, Erkan balanced roles as an educator, researcher, blogger, and public intellectual.
•       Family & Personal Life: Despite a hectic schedule, Erkan carved out time for family. The Sapanca retreat and Bayburt trip were important family moments. [41]. He’s also a passionate Beşiktaş football fan, and while club scandals and match-fixing news tested his fandom (he lamented the 1,000-player betting scandal)[42], he still cheered his team when he could. Music remained another outlet – from heavy metal (he’s a self-proclaimed metalhead) to local protest music, Erkan finds inspiration and stress relief in tunes old and new.

Sources: Erkan’s Field Diary blog posts (Jan–Dec 2025)[5][33], personal social media updates[20], and publication records[34].

[1] [3] [4] [6] [7] [8] Erkan travels Archives – Erkan’s Field Diary

https://erkansaka.net/category/erkans-habitus/erkan-travels/

[2] [9] [10] [12] Erkan’s Field Diary – Page 11 of 776 – Since 2004, A blog from Turkey on Turkey, Europe, Digital Cultures…

https://erkansaka.net/page/11/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaeGlxBBFwBZPaAaoV-5mD9WmYDhMBnInItSdTmMbow8LCHP4c-xOSCy0yC1DA_aem_KqPK59vrkQNUJW3elADKhg

[5] A Long May Begins: First Stop, Diyarbakır – Erkan’s Field Diary

https://erkansaka.net/2025/05/01/a-long-may-begins-first-stop-diyarbakir/

[11] Erkan’s mumbles Archives – Erkan’s Field Diary

https://erkansaka.net/category/erkans-habitus/erkans-mumbles/

[13] [14] [15] [16] [22] [23] [26] Erkan’s habitus Archives – Page 3 of 128 – Erkan’s Field Diary

https://erkansaka.net/category/erkans-habitus/page/3/

[17] [21] [24] [25] [27] [28] [42] Erkan’s habitus Archives – Page 2 of 128 – Erkan’s Field Diary

https://erkansaka.net/category/erkans-habitus/page/2/

[18] [19] In Bayburt, 2025 Version – Erkan’s Field Diary

https://erkansaka.net/2025/08/31/in-bayburt-2025-version/

[20] [40] I am honored to be part of it! | Erkan Saka

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/erkansaka_i-am-honored-to-be-part-of-it-activity-7196143390822928386-sdxw

[29] [30] [31] [32] [33] [37] [39] [41] Erkan’s habitus Archives – Erkan’s Field Diary

https://erkansaka.net/category/erkans-habitus/

[34] My new publication: “Big Tech and Gender” – Erkan’s Field Diary

https://erkansaka.net/2025/12/18/big-tech-gender-sage-encyclopedia/

[35] (PDF) Understanding Generative AI in a Cultural Context: Artificial …

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/387367949_Understanding_Generative_AI_in_a_Cultural_Context_Artificial_Myths_and_Human_Realities

[36] [38] Erkan’s Field Diary – Since 2004, A blog from Turkey on Turkey, Europe, Digital Cultures…

https://erkansaka.net/

Spring Semester: Teaching & Curriculum Development

Returning to Istanbul, the spring semester brought a full teaching load with my undergraduate course PUB 203 and graduate seminars. I spent considerable time transforming fragmented lecture notes into coherent course materials, particularly for PUB204, ensuring students had well-structured resources on digital anthropology and media studies.

One of the semester highlights was establishing what I’m calling an “AI and Society” initiative at Bilgi University—beginning with doctoral students but designed for broader academic and public engagement. This aligns perfectly with my ongoing research focus on epistemological mediation and algorithmic opacity in the AI era.

Media Engagement & Public Scholarship

• Television appearances: CNBC-e’s Teknokolik program in late February, discussing AI’s capacity to mimic human behavior and the transformation of digital communication
• Corporate training: Digital trends and literacy education for Eczacıbaşı Chemplus and Mega Metal
• Press interviews: Multiple sessions with journalists covering investigative journalism crisis, AI impacts on society, and digital media trends

Award ceremonies: The meaningful Galatasaray Lisesi award ceremony in February

International Academic Networks

Throughout 2025, I maintained active participation in several international research networks:

• AlertHub WG2: European collaborative research on alert systems and information disorders
• CA23114 (COST Action): Working Group 1 on theoretical challenges in political communication
• RELINK2 WG4: Kick-off meetings exploring digital networks and resilience

Harvard Friday Morning Seminars: Regular participation in Culture, Psychiatry and Global Mental Health seminars, engaging with scholars on topics from colonial microbiomes to tuberculosis in rural India

Winter: STS School & Faculty Governance

February brought the STS (Science and Technology Studies) Winter School, a week-long intensive program that aligned perfectly with my critical technology studies focus. Meanwhile, faculty governance responsibilities continued with regular Faculty Management Board meetings, Institute Council sessions, and the ongoing work of serving on the YÖÇAM Advisory Board.

Academic Service: Mentorship & Evaluation

The year included substantial academic service work:

• Serving on thesis defense juries (including Irmak Berberoğlu’s defense on Spotify’s impact on Turkish musicians)
• Supervising doctoral students through thesis monitoring committees
• Writing recommendation letters for former students pursuing international opportunities including Chevening Scholarships
• PhD program interviews and admissions work

Research Continuity & Writing

Despite the intensive teaching and policy work, I maintained my research agenda:

• Continued work on academic papers examining epistemological mediation and algorithmic opacity
• Developed the “AI and Society” initiative framework
• Advanced my International Journal of Communication submission on Turkey’s national AI development
• Participated in multiple book discussions and research presentations

2025 Media Appearances of Erkan Saka

• March 2, 2025 – Featured as a guest on Teknokolik (CNBC-e TV program, interview). In this segment, Prof. Saka discussed the impact of generative AI on education, explaining how new AI tools (like ChatGPT) are transforming learning and why critically engaging with these tools is vital for students and teachers (an insight highlighted by CNBC-e’s coverage).
• April 2025 – Interviewed on TV100 news (television interview). In a story reported by journalist Esra Öz, Saka analyzed the ongoing “digital migration” toward alternative social media platforms that prioritize privacy and user control. He explained that users are flocking to ad-free, decentralized platforms as the “new media order” shifts in favor of user empowerment[1].
• May 2025 – Featured in Hürriyet (Sunday print edition) in two pieces on the same day. One was a full interview about the emerging “new Cold War” between the US and China in the realm of artificial intelligence, where Saka provided insights on how AI rivalry defines global power dynamics. In the same edition, a separate article quoted his expert views on the rise of social media influencers and their impact[2].
• July 25, 2025 – Appeared again on Teknokolik (CNBC-e, TV program). This follow-up television interview focused on mid-year tech trends and advancements in AI. Saka offered commentary on the latest developments in technology – from AI’s growing influence to digital culture shifts – building on the themes he discussed in his earlier appearance.
• November 20, 2025 – Quoted in Hürriyet Daily (newspaper article). Saka’s analysis was featured in a news piece examining Zohran Mamdani’s grassroots digital campaign strategies during the NYC mayoral race. He highlighted how effective use of social media and inclusive, youth-oriented messaging helped mobilize diverse groups of voters, offering a comparison to campaign dynamics in Turkey[3][4]. Each of his comments on Mamdani’s campaign was included as expert commentary in the Hürriyet article, underscoring Saka’s role as a go-to academic voice on digital politics in 2025.

[1] “Bencil Yönetim” Dijital Göçü Hızlandırdı tv100  Yeni medya düzeni sorgulanıyor. Kişisel veriye duyarlılığı, reklamsız ve uygulamanın tek kişi tarafından yönetilmediği sosyal medya platformları… | Esra Öz

https://tr.linkedin.com/posts/fesraoz_bencil-y%C3%B6netim-dijital-g%C3%B6%C3%A7%C3%BC-h%C4%B1zland%C4%B1rd%C4%B1-activity-7323042517493473280-_-rd

[2] Erkan’s recent Media appearances – Erkan’s Field Diary

https://erkansaka.net/2025/05/16/recent-media-appearances/

[3] [4] Quoted in Hürriyet on Mamdani’s campaigning – Erkan’s Field Diary

https://erkansaka.net/2025/11/20/grassroots-digital-campaign-strategies-inclusive-messaging/

Other 2025 Highlights (Chronological)

• February 8, 2025 – Featured as a guest in a Turing Röportajları Q&A session titled “Yapay Zekâ ve Okuryazarlığı” (“AI and Literacy”). This online interview was hosted by the Türkiye Turing ve Otomobil Kurumu, focusing on the importance of AI literacy and its societal implications[3].
• April 12, 2025 – Gave a presentation on Generative AI and Disinformation as part of the RESAID project’s training program on combating information disorders. The talk examined how generative AI tools are transforming the production of misinformation, looking beyond familiar examples like deepfakes and emphasizing new “epistemological” challenges[4][5].
• April 17, 2025 – Appeared on NTV’s Dijital Beyin (“Digital Brain”) program in an interview titled “How to Prevent Information Pollution About Artificial Intelligence?”. The discussion focused on AI literacy as a civic skill and strategies to fight AI-driven misinformation and deepfakes in the media[6].
• May 8, 2025 – Invited speaker at an İstanbul Aydın University event (III. İAÜ International Student Biennial). He delivered a talk on “How AI Reshapes Our Access to Knowledge”, exploring AI’s role in mediating information access and how AI tools filter and prioritize knowledge in the digital age[7].
• August 11, 2025 – Hosted a SosyalKafa video interview with Furkan Şahin about Seren Ay, Turkey’s first AI-based virtual influencer. The conversation (shared on YouTube) covered Seren Ay’s creation and rapid success on Instagram, the technical process behind her AI-generated persona, and ethical issues in managing a virtual influencer[8].
• November 18, 2025 – Spoke as a panelist at a RESAID project event (“Creating Societal Cognitive Resilience Against Information Disorders”). He contributed to a panel titled “Information Disorders in the Age of AI and Algorithms”, highlighting how algorithm-driven platforms and generative AI amplify misinformation challenges in society[9].
• December 18, 2025 – Published a new encyclopedia entry “Big Tech and Gender” in the Sage International Encyclopedia of Politics and Gender. This publication (a short reference entry) examines gender disparities in Big Tech companies – covering workforce inequality, algorithmic bias, and how tech industry culture impacts women and minorities[10][11].
• December 20, 2025 – Spoke at an “International Relations in the Age of AI” panel organized by EUROPolitika journal in Istanbul. He presented on “How (Authoritarian) Powers Weaponize Data to Control the Future of Knowledge”, introducing the concept of “AI grooming” (the strategic poisoning of AI training data) and discussing how authoritarian regimes could manipulate AI systems to distort public knowledge[12][13].
• December 25, 2025 – Delivered a talk at the Zindelik Zirvesi (Wellness Summit) in Istanbul, discussing the growing use of AI as a therapeutic tool. He addressed issues of privacy and personal data, the pre-AI quantified self trend, and cautioned against moral panic in using AI for well-being[1][2].
• Late December 2025 – Conducted a training session on “Artificial Intelligence in Journalism” for the Anadolu Agency News Academy in Istanbul. In this Digital Journalism Training program for journalists, Prof. Saka introduced various AI newsroom tools and shared best practices – stressing that AI outputs should not be published without verification and highlighting areas for improvement in current AI applications in media[14][15].

[1] Another busy week left behind- including a training session at AA – Erkan’s Field Diary

https://erkansaka.net/2025/12/27/weekly-notes-ai-journalism-academia/

[2] Hazır mısın? İlham veren konuşmalar ve keyifli bir akışla Zindelik …

https://www.instagram.com/p/DSpKtObDED4/

[3] Yapay Zekâ ve Okuryazarlığı | Prof. Dr. Erkan Saka – YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jv3MT8IP3v8

[4] [5] My birthday presentation on Generative AI and Disinformation (!) – Erkan’s Field Diary

https://erkansaka.net/2025/04/13/my-birthday-presentation-on-generative-ai-and-disinformation/

[6] A summary of my interview at NTV: “How to Prevent Information Pollution About Artificial Intelligence?” – Erkan’s Field Diary

https://erkansaka.net/2025/04/18/a-summary-of-my-interview-at-ntv-how-to-prevent-information-pollution-about-artificial-intelligence/

[7] How AI Reshapes Our Access to Knowledge: Notes from My İstanbul Aydın University Talk – Erkan’s Field Diary

https://erkansaka.net/2025/05/12/ai-and-knowledge-access/

[8] Another SosyalKafa video: Interview about the Türkiye’s first AI Influencer, Seren Ay – Erkan’s Field Diary

https://erkansaka.net/2025/08/11/seren-ay-ai-influencer-turkey-interview/

[9] My talk at the RESAID event: “Information Disorders in the Age of AI and Algorithms” – Erkan’s Field Diary

https://erkansaka.net/2025/11/18/my-talk-at-the-resaid-event-information-disorders-in-the-age-of-ai-and-algorithms/

[10] [11] My new publication: “Big Tech and Gender” – Erkan’s Field Diary

https://erkansaka.net/2025/12/18/big-tech-gender-sage-encyclopedia/

[12] [13] AI and International Relations. How (Authoritarian) Powers Weaponize Data to Control the Future of Knowledge – Erkan’s Field Diary

https://erkansaka.net/2025/12/24/ai-and-international-relations-how-authoritarian-powers-weaponize-data-to-control-the-future-of-knowledge/

[14] [15]  “Digital Journalism Training” continues

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/newsacademy/education/-digital-journalism-training-continues/533468