Report news quickly but accurately!
Experts emphasize that the responsibility of the media increases during disasters such as earthquakes, highlighting that the media is expected to be both fast and accurate without spreading unverified information.
Prof. Süleyman İrvan, Head of the Journalism Department at Üsküdar University Faculty of Communication, emphasized the need for a journalism approach in earthquake reporting that can be summarized as "Report the news quickly, but report it accurately." İrvan stated, "Unfortunately, in today’s world, journalism largely operates through social media platforms, where speed is the top priority. It is not easy to replace this speed-oriented approach with a verification-based journalism approach."
Prof. İrvan pointed out that transparent crisis management can ensure the flow of accurate information and emphasized that journalists must be careful when reporting during and after an earthquake. He warned against using language that may cause public panic for the sake of ratings.
The media’s responsibility increases during disasters like earthquakes
Referring to the problematic journalism practices observed in the media following the earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş on February 6, 2023, Prof. Süleyman İrvan noted that "As the Faculty of Communication at Üsküdar University, we prepared an ‘Earthquake Reporting Guide’ in response to these problematic practices. As highlighted in this guide, the media’s responsibility increases significantly during disasters like earthquakes."
Explaining that people try to learn what is happening as quickly as possible when an earthquake occurs, İrvan stated that "For this reason, the media is expected to be fast in breaking news coverage without sharing unverified information. The success of the media depends on maintaining a balance between speed and accuracy. In earthquake reporting, we must adopt an approach summarized as ‘Report the news quickly, but report it accurately.’"
It is not easy to replace speed with verification-based journalism!
Emphasizing that maintaining a balance between speed and accuracy without compromising accuracy should be accepted as a fundamental principle, Prof. Süleyman İrvan stated that "Unfortunately, in today's world, journalistic practices are largely conducted through social media platforms, where speed is the primary principle. Similarly, news websites that operate online also adopt a speed-oriented publishing approach. It is not easy to replace this speed-based approach with a verification-based journalism approach."
Highlighting that the sharing of false or incomplete information in earthquake news can have numerous negative impacts on society, İrvan continued his remarks as follows:
Fake news undermines media credibility
"First, it can cause fear and panic among the public. We witnessed an example of this in Hatay, where a rumor about a dam bursting led to widespread panic among the population. Second, it can disrupt rescue and relief operations. For example, rescue teams may panic and abandon their work sites, or they may be directed to the wrong locations. Third, it undermines public trust in the media. Fake news damages the credibility of the media."
‘Preventive journalism’ should be practiced in the media during disasters
Prof. Süleyman İrvan emphasized that it is impossible to completely eliminate misinformation and disinformation on social media, and he stressed that imposing restrictions on social media platforms during disasters is not the right approach. Referring to the negative consequences of such restrictions observed during the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes, İrvan explained that "What is needed is to ensure transparent crisis management. What does this mean? First, accurate information from authorized sources must be provided quickly. If you do not ensure the flow of accurate information, rumors will spread rapidly. This accurate flow of information can only be achieved through good organization. Second, just as we did during the pandemic, a scientific committee of earthquake experts should be established, and the experts on this committee should be the ones providing information to the media. If too many different voices emerge, the public will become confused. Citizens must be clearly informed about what to do during an earthquake, and the media should engage in 'preventive journalism.'"
Official sources must be accessible, and journalists must be able to get answers…
Prof. İrvan emphasized that sharing unverified information from unofficial sources during an earthquake can negatively affect rescue efforts and create panic among the public. He added that "However, official sources are also expected to provide the media with accurate and timely information. These sources must be accessible, and journalists should be able to get answers to their questions. Unfortunately, in Türkiye, there is sometimes a bad habit among official authorities of trying to hide negative developments."
What should journalists pay attention to when broadcasting during and after an earthquake?
Prof. Süleyman İrvan also addressed the issues that journalists should be mindful of when broadcasting during and after an earthquake, and İrvan stated that "When speaking with people waiting at the scene of the rubble, hoping for their loved ones to be rescued, a careful and sensitive language should be used. Journalists should maintain sensitivity and respect for human emotions and values when interviewing earthquake survivors and reporting the news. Extreme caution should be exercised when extending a microphone to those whose relatives are still trapped under the rubble. Images showing the deceased victims of the earthquake, especially those revealing their faces, should be avoided. Dramatizing earthquake news by adding music to the footage is not appropriate. Journalists should avoid unnecessary contact with people trapped under the rubble, which could endanger their health for the sake of reporting."
Do not use language that causes public panic for the sake of ratings!
Prof. İrvan noted that journalists may capture shocking images during an earthquake, but they should act with a sense of social responsibility when broadcasting these images and be mindful of the language they use. He concluded, "It is wrong to shout or use sensational language like ‘shock images’ or ‘you will not believe what you see’ just for the sake of ratings.”
Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)