Journalism and trauma: 1999 Marmara earthquake experiences of the local journalists in Sakarya

This research scrutinises the experiences the local journalists went through as a journalist and an earthquake survivor during the 17 August 1999 Marmara Earthquake. Journalists' professional and personal experiences in traumatic events such as acts of violence and natural disasters have been a matter of academic interest since the beginning of 2000s. The number of studies examining the difficulties, personal survival and psychological impact levels of the journalists who have reported news of natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods and tsunamis through sample cases are gradually increasing. 1999 Marmara Earthquake in Turkey is a quite extraordinary and significant example to figure out the traumatic experience the local journalists went through during and after the earthquake. This study, which is constructed through qualitative research approach and based on the semi-structured interviews with 8 local journalists who worked in Marmara Earthquake in Sakarya, aims to understand the difficulties the local journalists went through personally and professionally during the earthquake. The study has exposed that the 1999 earthquake left evident traces of trauma in the local journalists who suffered the disaster. Harmed personally and professionally, the local journalists faced great difficulties in accommodation, communication, transportation, news reporting and publishing newspapers. It has been found out that the journalists had tried to overcome the disaster and do their job through their own solutions, help and solidarity. The study has revealed that the journalists who were observed to be still lacking preparation and training for earthquakes, continue to have similar worries, fears and concerns both personally and professionally in the present conjuncture as well.