Özet:

The aim of this research is to find out how Balıkesir tourism takes place in the local newspaper news. For this purpose, document analysis was conducted by using qualitative research method. Themes, categories and codes were determined in order to examine the obtained data in depth. In the retrospective analysis, the news was examined in terms of content and quantitative aspects. Local newspapers under the title of Balıkesir on the official website of the Press Advertisement Agency were scanned. 26 local newspapers of nine districts that are Ayvalık, Bandırma, Burhaniye, Edremit, Erdek, Gömeç, Gönen, Manyas, Sındırgı and the center were examined, 19 newspapers containing tourism news were evaluated. “Balıkesir” and “Turizm” keywords were searched on the local newspaper web pages. The data collection process was limited to the first eight months of the year between January 2019 and August 2019. The data obtained with this restriction sheds light on the developments and changes towards Balıkesir tourism in 2019. In line with the results of the research, suggestions such as making original news in terms of content, increasing the promotional columns for the destination and the necessity of Balıkesir tourism to be included in the national press were also presented.