Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - 13:57
> Development of the Media Sector in Aghanistan

Afghan Journalism Freedom Report - Jan 07

Spread of insecurity presents serious challenges for media...

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Sharif Hasanyar, news coordinator of Tolo TV

The spread of insecurity in Afghanistan presents serious challenges to journalists and the media community in general. On one side, the Taliban continue to threaten lives of reporters, and, on the other side, the government authorities continue to put pressure on them. Such actions are causing great un-ease in the media circles of Afghanistan and raise concerns that a new era of government censorship could be on its way in to the country.

Threats from Taliban and pressures from government on media outlets automatically cause self-censorship resulting in poor freedom of expression and reporting. The Taliban continues to accuse journalists of backing the government of Afghanistan and the governmental circles deem that journalists and media outlets are trying to weaken them by broadcasting news and programs critical to the government.

Aside from this, what is clear is that journalists continue to carry out their duties and endeavor to develop and broadcast un-biased news and critical programs in order to improve the overall organization level of the State – not to discredit it. Without an independent media, that is unafraid to criticize the establishment the people of Afghanistan would not be able to access the truth, it is imperative that the media remains independent from the state. Media Watch Report 20 investigqted the following issues:

  •  Afghan Journalist, Anwar Saleh, killed in Hangu area of NWFP, Pakistan
  •  Sharif Hasanyar, news coordinator of Tolo TV, detained by The National Security Directorate
  •  Resignation of Najib Roshan, Director of (RTA) National Radio and TV
  •  Taliban threatens reporters and those working in the media
  •  Release of Abdul Qudoos from jail, reporter for Radio Sulh in Jabulseraj
  •  The Indian movie “Kabul Express” banned in Afghanistan
  •  Ban imposed on the Kabulpress website by Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  •  Pak-Afghan Journalist Association [sec: Media Association] formed in Kabul
  •  Afghanistan Press Club to be launched by Nai Supporting Afghanistan Open Media
  •  The State-run TV of Khost province relaunched

  •  First issue of “The journalist ” published by Afghanistan National Union of Journalists

    Read previous Afghan Media Watch Reports

    PDF - 95.3 kb
    Afghan Journalism Freedom Report v.20 - full report
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