The Newspaper Stories Coverage of the February 2023 Earthquake Disaster in Syrian Newspapers- A comparative Analytical Study

Abstract

The study aimed to  reveal the extent of interest in newspaper stories related to the earthquake disaster of February 16, 2023, in the government newspaper Tishreen and the private newspaper Al-Watan, by analyzing the content of newspaper stories in terms of their types, goals and trends, and the most prominent typographical elements and comparing them.

The study concluded that the study sample lacked interest in newspaper stories covering the effects of the earthquake compared to other news arts. Feature news also topped the types of newspaper stories, The goal of conveying information, positive direction, and objective images were all excelled in both newspapers. Volunteers/rescuers topped the information sources for newspaper stories in Tishreen newspaper, while affected people topped information sources for newspaper stories in Al-Watan newspaper.

The study recommended that Syrian government and private newspapers should pay attention to the art of journalistic stories and employ it more effectively while covering natural disasters, including earthquakes. Giving more space to the affected and influential human voice in the sources of press stories, especially (affected people/survivors and volunteers/rescuers). The need to balance positive and negative press stories in covering natural disasters.