Facing up to difficulties 'in the nature of'* journalists of this country
Click to read the article in Turkish
The fatal blows that came from under the ground at night on February 6, shook not only ten provinces but the whole country. The earthquake, on top of claiming nearly 20 thousand lives, showed the true colors of a medieval mentality that does not value humans at all.
The ruins behind expressions such as "urban transformation," "crazy project," or "industrial advance" were revealed once more. The people calling to the depths of debris in the Marmara Earthquake "Is there anyone?" are in our memory. What changed in the 24 years that passed was that people were calling out from inside the wreckage, crying "Is there anyone?" This is of course an important difference that we have to evaluate both in humanitarian and political aspects.
The system is failing in every aspect. I want to talk about what falls to the share of the press. The press also goes through the hoop in times of crises, and disaster. Some details that strike our attention are painful.
Journalists set out to go to the earthquake-hit region immediately after the earthquake, together with their broadcast vehicles and equipment. They did not have an idea what was waiting for them. I am sure that the scenes they encountered was big enough to stick in their memories for a lifetime.
Kelimelerin tükendiği an… https://t.co/CCIecmJtrL pic.twitter.com/U2E3vmMj2N
— hilmi hacaloğlu (@hilmihacaloglu) February 8, 2023
"A moment when there is nothing that we can say anymore," Hilmi Hacaloğlu
It is difficult to work as a journalist in the field. On the one side, you want to reach out to those who suffer, on the other side, you are asked to transfer information. On the one side, you are a human, and on the other an employee. And the greatest difficulty is that you are expected to tell what you see in line with the broadcasting policy of your institution. During the Marmara Earthquake,I remember my boss, who was also in the construction sector, calling while we were reporting, telling us that the name of the construction company could be seen in the images that we shoot. Now again, we see how the microphones are suddenly moved away when the victims of the earthquake express their anger. They do not want the voices of these people to be heard.
Some start their words by saying, "In fact ..." trying to look on "the bright side" of what we go through. Others choose sides more clearly and express their hostility to those who are reporting the truth, already having lost both the human side and the employee side altogether. Trying to stand out.
Deprem bölgesinden yanlış, çarpıtılmış, manipülatif içerikler nasıl mı üretiliyor?
— Taha Hüseyin Karagöz (@thhsynkrgz) February 9, 2023
Üstte;
PKK propagandasıyla gündeme gelen ETHA elemanını Hatay Defne’de fark ettim
Altta;
Önceki terör haberleri@TC_icisleri pic.twitter.com/wwhxWRVRO4
"How are wrong, distorted, manipulative content from the earthquake region produced?
I noticed an ETHA employee who was discussed for making PKK propaganda in Defne, Hatay"
Our colleagues working in the field were with the people who were trying to hold onto life. And, of course, not all of them had laid aside their human side. They were also feeling the pain.
Some reached the boiling point between the "broadcasting policy" and humanity. While the compromises from the human side allowed our colleague to present reports according to the "broadcasting policy" until that day, it was no longer possible.
I had to say "Hello" to you from bianet during such a difficult time. bianet, the first internet news portal of Türkiye, is an old and first love for all of us. It is a new and important period for me. We will bring bianet to where it deserves together with all our friends. And of course with your suggestions, contributions, and critics.
Today Ruken Tuncel, Ferid Demirel, Hikmet Adal, and Evren Gönül from our team are in the earthquake region. We will try to be on the field and report to you from the spot within the bounds of possibility. We will be journalists whose "human side" outweighs. We know that our job is difficult but facing up to difficulties is in the nature of the journalist of this country anyhow.
* After the disastrous mine accident in Soma, Manisa on May 13, 2014, where 301 mine workers were killed, the industrial accident with the highest death toll in the history of the Republic of Türkiye, then-Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had said that this was present "in the nature of" the work, an expression that sparked angry reactions in the country.