The sixth edition of the News Workshop for Journalists, organized by GazeteMLSA, took place over the weekend in Diyarbakır. The workshop focused on discussing news proposals and provided journalists with crucial information on reporting and news photography in dangerous environments.
The Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA) has been conducting these workshops for the past four years. The latest session, held from May 10-12, was supported by the Journalists Association and featured T24 Ankara Representative Gökçer Tahincioğlu and Turkish Journalists' Union General Secretary Banu Tuna as project coordinators.
Held at the Wyndham Garden Hotel, the workshop included sessions on news writing techniques by Tuna and Tahincioğlu. Additionally, experienced photojournalist Osman Örsal, who worked for Reuters Turkey for many years, shared his expertise on news photography.
First day: Evaluating news proposals
The workshop commenced on Friday, May 10, with an initial session dedicated to evaluating news proposals for the upcoming sixth issue of GazeteMLSA. Starting at 3:00 PM, young journalists presented their ideas to Tuna and Tahincioğlu and received feedback. This session clarified the topics and necessary steps for the proposed news stories.
Osman Örsal on news photography during disasters and social events
On the second day, Osman Örsal led a session on "Journalism in Dangerous Environments," providing valuable insights into news photography. The session ran from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, during which Örsal discussed covering natural disasters, conflict zones, and social events.
Örsal emphasized the importance of preparation and planning, detailing what news photographers should focus on during events like earthquakes, floods, fires, conflicts, and social protests. He advised on practical aspects, such as travel precautions, road checks, choosing safe accommodations, and ensuring personal security in hotels.
Mental and physical preparedness for disaster reporting
Örsal also stressed the need for journalists to be mentally prepared for the challenging conditions in disaster zones. "Maintain a distance from disaster victims and listen to their stories, but try to forget them once your report is done. Remember that you may have to cover another disaster soon and can't carry the burden of all these experiences," he said.
He noted that journalists might experience trauma days after returning from such assignments, showing symptoms like sleeplessness, anxiety, fatigue, and irritability. In such cases, Örsal recommended seeking help or opting out of similar assignments, emphasizing that no news story is worth more than the journalist's well-being.
Final day: News planning session
The workshop concluded with a news planning session on the third day. During this session, led by Banu Tuna and Gökçer Tahincioğlu, the journalists reviewed their news proposals once more. They were then divided into two groups to work on their respective news stories, finalizing the preparations for the upcoming issue of GazeteMLSA.
