Betül Mardin

Who is Betül Mardin?

Betûl Mardin is a famous Turkish public relations specialist. She is called the "grand dame of public relations".

Betûl Mardin was born into a renowned family that brought up statesmen, diplomats and leaders in the civic, military and business sectors of the Ottoman Empire and the Republic of Turkey. Her father was partner in a petroleum gas station chain. Her brother, Arif Mardin was a world-renowned Turkish-American music producer.

After having graduated from the American College for Girls in Istanbul, she began her career in 1955 as a magazine journalist in a newspaper. In 1958, she became assistant producer in Dormen Theater and from 1964 on continued as a program specialist and a producer at the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation. In 1967, Betûl Mardin was sent to London, UK to attend a course on television held by the BBC. Returned to Turkey, she was appointed to establish the theater section at the TRT in Ankara.

From 1968 on, Betûl Mardin dedicated herself to public relations. Between 1976 and 1982, she served as the president of the Turkish Public Relations Association. She was elected president of the International Public Relations Association in 1995. In 1996, Betûl Mardin became the founding president of the Turkish Public Relations Association. For her contribution to the progress of public relations profession, she was awarded "Lifetime Honorary Member" of IPRA in 1998. The same year, Betûl Mardin became a member of the European Public Relations Confederation. She is member of several public relations institutions in Turkey and internationally.