Burcu Özkaya Günaydın
In the latest installment of the Media and Law Studies Association’s (MLSA) series Journalism in the Earthquake Zone, the focus is on Hatay, one of the provinces in southern Turkey devastated by the twin earthquakes on Feb. 6, 2023. Journalists Volkan İçil and Burcu Özkaya Günaydın share their experiences reporting from the region, highlighting the challenges of practicing journalism in an area still struggling with the aftermath.
Persistent challenges nearly two years after the earthquakes
The twin earthquakes, which impacted 11 provinces in Turkey and parts of Syria, will mark their second anniversary in February 2024. In Hatay, one of the hardest-hit areas, issues such as housing shortages, inadequate transportation, economic instability, and the lack of a clean, healthy environment persist. Construction of public housing continues, but much of the city resembles a sprawling construction site. Despite these conditions, residents are trying to rebuild their lives.
Journalists covering these challenges often find themselves confronting the same problems as the people they report on. Whether it's the lack of transportation or living conditions in temporary shelters, reporters like İçil and Günaydın say they experience the hardships firsthand while trying to shed light on them for the public.
“We can’t find vehicles to get to stories”
Both İçil and Günaydın describe significant logistical and infrastructural difficulties in their work. Poor road conditions, unreliable transportation, and persistent electricity shortages make covering the news in Hatay uniquely challenging. Yet they emphasize that journalism in the earthquake zone goes beyond simply reporting. “When you go out to cover a story here, you inevitably form a connection with people and are deeply affected by their struggles,” they said.
Despite these difficulties, the journalists expressed satisfaction in being a voice for the people of Hatay, amplifying their struggles and drawing attention to issues in need of solutions.
“I will continue to be the voice of a shattered city”
Volkan İçil began his journalism career directly after the earthquake, reporting from the ground. The disaster marked a turning point in his life, as he lost loved ones, friends, and his hometown. Before the earthquake, he managed a social media page that he later transformed into a platform for sharing news about the city. Seeing the positive impact of his work in raising awareness and helping solve problems deepened his commitment to journalism. Currently working for one of Antakya’s oldest local newspapers, İçil vowed to remain in the field and continue being the voice of a city struggling to recover.
Burcu Özkaya Günaydın, a journalist living in Hatay since 2018, has been actively reporting on the region before and after the earthquake. She noted the unique difficulties of working as a female journalist in the disaster zone, particularly the lack of street lighting after 6 p.m., which makes traveling home unsafe. Günaydın also emphasized how closely her personal challenges are intertwined with the stories she covers, stating, “In the earthquake zone, the problems you report on often mirror your own. It’s an interconnected reality.”
Günaydın highlighted severe transportation issues, including a lack of public transit and early service cutoffs, which force many residents—especially students—to rely on hitchhiking. She also pointed to ongoing internet connectivity problems, which sometimes make uploading videos an hours-long ordeal. While both living and working in Hatay remain difficult, she underscored her dedication to giving the city a voice.
As Hatay continues to navigate the long road to recovery, journalists like İçil and Günaydın remain committed to shedding light on the city’s struggles and advocating for its residents.
