Oktay Ekşi (Mesudiye 1932)

Graduated in Law, he became reporter in the 50es fort the Ankara News Agency, and then Ankara Correspondent and Bureau Chief for  the Dünya daily (İstanbul). He worked for the Yeni Gazete daily and later became Director of the News Evaluation and Commentary Dept. of the Turkish Radio and Tv.Network (1970-71). Ankara Correspondent and Bureau Chief for the Hürriyet daily (İstanbul) (1971-74) and then its Principal Columnist (1974-83) and General Manager of Hürriyet News Agency (1975-82), between 1983 and 1984 Mr.Eksi was Vice Chairman and Founding Member of the Social Democratic party. Since 1984 Principal Columnist of the Güneş daily (İstanbul) and of the Hürriyet daily, since 1988 he is Chairman and Founding member of the Turkish Pres Council. He was also Vice Chairman and Founding member of the World Association of Press Councils (1992-2002) and Founding Chairman of the National Committee of the International Pres Institute (1996-98). He is currently President, of the WAPC. since 2002,  Mr Eksi received numerous awards by different Journalistic Associations, and the Paul Harris award by 2430 Region of Rotary International (1997), and the Honorary Doctorate by İstanbul Universitiy (2003)