How the Pandemic Shaped the Digital Skills of Journalists in Turkey

Abstract

Digitalization process has been changing the work patterns and practices of media professionals all over the world in the last decade. This research focuses on perceptions of journalists in Turkey on the digital transformation of journalism considering accelerated digitalization and abrupt changes in news production and distribution especially during the pandemic. It is based on in-depth interviews conducted towards the end of the Covid-19 Pandemic with editors and reporters to explore their perceptions about digitalization, the ways in which they respond to disruption in journalism, and the ways in which adapted to the new media environment. Our study suggests that the COVID 19 pandemic has been an accelerator in terms of enhancing the digital skills and capabilities of journalists in Turkey, but the findings indicate that these mostly have remained as personal efforts rather than institutional or sectoral initiatives in an increasingly consolidated and polarized media environment.