Effect of the Covid-19 pandemic period on the local press: Şanlıurfa, the instance in point

The Covid-19 epidemic, which was first seen in Wuhan, China in 2019 and affected the whole world in a short time, has shown negative effects in all areas of life, especially in human health. Covid-19, which has caused people to alter their living habits, has caused the words mask, distance, hygiene and vaccine to be employed side by side and this quartet has become the golden rule of staying healthy. While the epidemic period made great changes in people's lifestyles, it had also negative effects on almost every sector, especially on health and economy. One of these sectors is the press, which works for the freedom of the public to receive information. Journalists, who lost the chance to meet face-to-face with some news sources due to the Covid-19 pandemic, faced the risk of contracting the disease due to their constant presence in the field. Journalists in the business line, who were exhausted due to their profession, have also been psychologically affected by the fear of contracting the disease. In this study, how the local press workers were affected during the pandemic process and the results of these effects in generating news are examined. The study's scope is limited to the local press in Şanlıurfa, and data are collected by applying in-depth interviews and questionnaires. As a result of the research, it has been revealed that Covid-19 affects press workers, they have difficulties in producing news and accessing news sources, and they are psychologically concerned about exposure to the disease.