The Faculty of Communication at Mersin University was established by the Council of Ministers Decision dated 02/05/2001 and numbered 2001/2553; the Department of Radio, Television and Cinema admitted its first students in 2004. During the initial phase, a preparatory class program was implemented; this program was abolished by a Senate decision in 2008, and Turkish was designated as the sole language of instruction.

The Department of Radio, Television and Cinema aims to educate communication professionals who possess a strong command of the theoretical foundations of communication, are capable of analyzing national and global realities, are equipped with knowledge and skills aligned with current sectoral requirements, and prioritize professional ethics. The program is structured with a holistic educational approach that enables students to develop diverse areas of specialization within radio, television, and cinema.

In addition to undergraduate education, the department offers graduate education through the Radio, Television and Cinema Master’s Program, the Radio, Television and Cinema PhD Program, and the interdisciplinary Media, Culture and Urban Studies PhD Program. The master’s program was established by the decision of the Council of Higher Education dated 21/09/2007, while the doctoral program was established by the decision dated 25/12/2014 and began admitting students in the 2016–2017 academic year.

The Department of Radio, Television and Cinema provides a practice-oriented educational environment with a fully equipped television studio; Mersin University Radio, which has been broadcasting terrestrially and online since 2005; a Radio News Center; a MIDI studio; editing units; computer laboratories; and a 3D screening hall. This infrastructure enables students to directly translate their theoretical knowledge into production processes.

In addition to its academic activities, the department stands out with cultural and artistic production-oriented events. The Atıf Yılmaz Short Film Festival, organized since 2012 in cooperation with Daraba Film Medya Event, has become an integral part of the department’s institutional identity. Furthermore, open-air cinema screenings are held in collaboration with Mezitli Municipality, and events such as the Sea-Themed Short Film Competition are organized in cooperation with the Mersin Chamber of Shipping.

Within the scope of the 17th Mediterranean Games held in Mersin in 2013, the faculty assumed an active role; the television studio was used as the International Broadcast Center (IBC), and faculty members and students directly participated in content production processes.

The Department of Radio, Television and Cinema was first accredited by ILEDAK in 2020; following subsequent evaluations, its accreditation was renewed for a five-year period, valid between 20 February 2025 and 20 February 2030. This achievement demonstrates the sustainability of the department’s educational quality and its commitment to institutional development.