Kahramanmaraş Depremlerinden Etkilenen İllerde Görev Yapan Gazetecilerin Afet Haberciliğine İlişkin Deneyimleri
Experiences of journalists working in provinces affected by earthquakes on Kahramanmaraş disaster reporting

Summary/Abstract: The mass media have an essential role to play in society before and after disasters. The main actor in these tasks, which can be listed as providing news, and information, raising awareness, and contributing to the improvement of society, is the journalist. At the same time, disasters such as earthquakes have an impact on society and inevitably on journalists who experience the disaster firsthand. The main purpose of the study is to reveal the experiences of journalists in disaster journalism in 11 provinces affected by the earthquakes, centered on Kahramanmaraş, along with the problems they experienced during and after the disaster. In the study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 55 journalists, 5 from each province, selected from among the journalists living and working in 11 provinces affected by the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes on 6 February 2023. The data obtained after the interviews were subjected to content analysis using the “thematic analysis” technique within the framework of content analysis. The results of the study revealed that journalists were aware of the effective role of the media and that they carried out their duties responsibly in this context. Participants who stated that they had not received extensive training in disaster reporting emphasized that they had generally gained all their experience through practical experience. During and after the disaster, the inability of their families and themselves to find shelter, equipment shortages, and internet problems made it difficult for them to perform their duties. In particular, false/fake news disseminated via social media and information spread without verification due to the “need to be quick” caused various ethical issues. They also said that difficulties in accessing official sources caused errors in ethical reporting. Journalists who talked about their post-disaster experiences said that they had experienced many traumatic events, such as witnessing many deaths, working with people who had died, and dealing with the media. Journalists who reported experiencing trauma and stress disorders emphasized that they needed support in accessing treatment. It is extremely important, especially during disasters, that journalists are able to perform their duties ethically without interruption, that their needs are fully met, and that their physical and psychological health is protected. However, the inadequacy in meeting these needs has highlighted the urgent need for systemic measures in this regard. At this point, the importance of developing and disseminating an effective disaster response policy has also been emphasized by journalists.

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