SHUSHA, Azerbaijan, July 13. Covering crises
and natural disasters requires journalists to have not only
professional skills but also serious psychological and physical
preparation, Yusuf Ozhan, Vice Chairman of the Board and
Editor-in-Chief of Türkiye's Anadolu Agency, said, Trend's special
correspondent reports.
Ozhan made the remarks while speaking at the 4th Shusha Global
Media Forum.
"Covering crises, destruction and natural disasters is extremely
challenging work. After the earthquake, dozens of our journalists,
camera operators and photographers were sent to affected areas,
where they worked for a month under extremely difficult conditions.
They faced not only professional challenges but also significant
emotional stress, lack of sleep and separation from their families.
Newsroom management must understand that caring for journalists is
as important a part of the job as preparing reports," Ozhan
said.
According to him, journalists themselves become part of the
story they tell the world.
"A journalist's own story is also part of what is happening
because they are the ones who make it possible to inform people
quickly. Thanks to the dedication of our staff, the first footage
from the affected Hatay region was delivered to the newsroom on the
night of the earthquake, despite the lack of internet access and
damaged infrastructure. To transmit their materials, photographers
had to travel tens of kilometers outside the city to find a
connection," he said.
Ozhan emphasized that such situations once again demonstrate the
importance of supporting journalists working in emergency zones and
their role in providing timely information to the global
public.
