Media of Afghanistan

The media of Afghanistan includes printing, broadcasting and digital. It is mainly in Dari and Pashto, the official languages of the nation. In 2013, Reporters Without Borders listed the media environment of Afghanistan as 128 out of 179, with 1st being most free. The country jumped 22 places compared to the previous year mainly because no journalists have been jailed.[1] Journalists in the country operate in one of the world's most complex and contested information environments. At times, the lines between propaganda, intelligence and journalism blur, and some journalists covering Taliban activities have been accused of treachery or arrested, while others have been kidnapped, beaten or harassed by Taliban insurgents.[2][3][4]

Media history

Mahmud Tarzi became the pioneer of Afghan journalism

The first newspaper, Siraj-ul-Akhbar (Lamp of the News) was initially published on January 11, 1906, with Abdul-Rauf as editor. After this first and only issue in Dari language, its publication stopped. It was revived in October 1911 by Mahmud Tarzi, the editor and owner of the newspaper who was critical of the friendship between the British Empire and Afghanistan. Mahmud Tarzi became known as the pioneer of Afghan journalism, in 1916 he famously wrote: "Siraj Al Akhbar Afghaniya is neither British, nor Russian nor French nor Italian nor German nor Chinese or Japanese. It is a Muslim newspaper and, in that, it is specifically an Afghan newspaper. Whatever it says, whatever melody it sings, is from an Afghan point of view and stems from the tone of Afghan national dignity.". In 1919, under King Amanullah Khan, Aman-i-Afghan (Afghan Peace) replaced Siraj al-Akhbar, serving as an organ of the government, while several smaller private journals appeared under different ministries.[5] Along with these developments, Radio Kabul began broadcasting in 1925, which inaugurated a new era of mass media in the country.[5] The 1964 Constitution of Afghanistan and the Press Law of 1965 provided for freedom of the press, within the boundaries of appropriate behavior. The press was editorially independent from government but was instructed to safeguard the interests of the state and constitutional monarchy, Islam, and public order. Afghan journalism progressed and developed from the 1950s through to the 1970s, though it remained limited.

Central control panel at Radio Kabul transmitter in the 1950s. Transmitter can be heard as far distant as South Africa and Indonesia.

When King Zahir Shah's government was overthrown in the 1973 coup by his cousin Daoud Khan, approximately 19 newspapers were shut down and media came under severe restriction, ending a period of relative freedom.[6] The first color television broadcasting appeared in 1978.[6] The media fell into the control of Soviet influences during the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) from 1979 to 1992.[7]

Media under the Taliban was characterized by strict media laws, including the banning of television, seen as "morally corrupt" and music, banned under Sharia law.[6] The Taliban instigated the destruction of television sets in 1998.[8] People caught with a television in their homes were subject to imprisonment or flogging. Most media operated from other countries, except for the Taliban free areas in Northern Afghanistan, which had its own television service, Badakhshan Television, broadcasting news and films for around 5,000 viewers for three hours a day.[9][10] All television stations were shut down in 1996,[6] and printed media newspapers were forbidden to publish commentary, photos or readers letters. The radio stations under Taliban control broadcast nothing other than religious programs and news. Around 70% of the population listened to its broadcasts.[8] In 2000, the Taliban government launched The Islamic Emirate, an English-language newspaper designed to counteract information produced by the "enemies of Islam".[8] Only Russia, Czech Republic and Serbia had news bureaus based in Kabul due to instability.[6] The Kabul TV center was converted into a military barracks, and journalists were not permitted to work with foreign media.[8] The media environment remained bleak until the overthrow of the Taliban in late 2001.

Studio of TOLOnews in Kabul, Afghanistan

The Afghan media has experienced a rapid growth since early 2002, with over a dozen TV stations being established. Some of these include Tolo TV, Ariana TV, Lemar TV, Shamshad TV, and the state-owned RTA TV. There are also over one hundred private radio stations, and similar number of newspapers and magazines.[2][11] All media flourished under Afghanistan's new rules, though journalists do undergo self-censorship; penalties are still in place for defaming individuals and running material contrary to the principles of Islam.[10]

Some government officials have used their positions to maintain their own communications facilities, as national and local governments own or control several dozen newspapers and many electronic media outlets.[12] A 2004 media law prohibits censorship, but requires registration of periodicals with the Ministry of Information and Culture; in 2005 some 250 periodicals were registered.[12] International organisations have been training new journalists since the fall of the Taliban.[9] However, due to instability in Afghanistan, journalists have been as highly targeted as soldiers, as shown by instances of kidnapping and death threats.[13] An NGO named Nai (meaning flute, an important symbolic instrument for broadcasting) tracks violence against journalists with its Media Watch Data.[14] More than 100 journalists also protested a raid on a private TV station which drew concern of further government interference in reporting.[15]

Salam Watandar Radio Network operating under the umbrella of Salam Afghanistan Media Organization (SAMO) is one of the leading and largest radio network in the country. The network comprises 85 local radios located across 34 provinces of Afghanistan with over 22 million Afghans under its footprint. All the partners radio stations are connected via satellite to Salam Watandar Kabul 98.9 FM to pick its programming daily during set hours and in turn broadcast it in real-time through their own FM frequencies. Also, Salam Watandar News Agency serves as the primary source for daily breaking and reliable local news, reports, features and analysis to many Afghans and other media outlets through its vibrant site in three local languages (Farsi, Pashto, Uzbeki) and English.

Salam Afghanistan Media Organization (SAMO), the umbrella organization of the Salam Watandar Radio Network, Salam Watandar News Agency and Salam Watandar Kabul 98.9 FM, has been continuously operating since 2003 reaching over millions of Afghans, connecting the voices and aspirations of listeners from both urban and rural areas. In addition, SAMO support helps build the capacity of independent Afghan media by serving as a strategic hub for provincial partner stations offering training, technical advice, and a share of advertising revenue to support their sustainability. SAMO also offers a full spectrum of other media services from end to end through its Multimedia Production, Research and Strategic Communication, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning, and Training arms.

One of Afghanistan's largest independent news agencies is Pajhwok Afghan News, which was founded in 2004 by Afghan journalists who worked with the Institute for War and Peace Reporting. It has reporters in nearly every province, and publishes stories online in English, Dari and Pashto.[16] Bakhtar News Agency, another wire service, is run by the Afghan government.

Although many fewer Afghan women than men work as journalists, female Afghan reporters and editors are increasingly making their voices heard not just on traditionally "feminine" topics like education and health, but on larger issues affecting Afghanistan, such as the tension between tradition and modernity.[17] Shukria Barakzai founded the weekly bilingual Women's Voice to campaign for women's rights. She was elected to the House of the People (or Wolesi Jirga, the lower house of the National Assembly of Afghanistan), and speaks up for hopes that a better and freer press will lead to strong democracy and civil society.[18] During the Afghan presidential election, 2009 there were some reports of attacks on press freedom.[19]

Newspapers

Afghanistan has a low readership of newspapers, coupled with the low 38.2% literacy rate.[20] Many newspapers suffer some form of censorship and financial difficulty, often relying on supporters of President Hamid Karzai, or the former mujahadeen supporters of King Zahir Shah.[21] The principal daily newspapers are the state-owned Anis, Arman-e Melli, and the privately owned Afghanistan Group of Newspapers which includes The Daily Outlook Afghanistan (The first Independent English Newspaper of Afghanistan) and The Daily Afghanistan in local languages of Dari and Pashto, Cheragh, founded by first Afghan lady journalist Kathreen Wida in Dec. 2003, Eslah, and The Kabul Times and Khaama Press and Eradeh, Hewad, Ittefaq-e Islam, and Shari'at. The circulation of independent print publications has been confined primarily to the Kabul region.[12] About 500 publications are now registered in the country.[22][23]

Radio

Radio has long been the most widespread source of information in Afghanistan. Radio broadcasting went into air in 1925 with Radio Kabul being the first station. By the late 1970s nearly every home owned at least one radio, especially in the major cities. The country has an estimated 150 radio stations today,[20][24] with AM, FM and shortwave, broadcasting mainly in Pashto and Dari languages. The BBC World Service, Voice of America, Radio Free Afghanistan and others broadcast into Afghanistan as an additional source of news, in both Pashto and Dari.[22]

Television

Shamshad TV studio (2010)

Afghanistan has a total of about 76 television stations, they include local and international channels.[20][24] One of this is state-owned RTA TV. Satellite and cable television ownership is growing; Al Jazeera widely seen as a leading source of uncensored information.[25] Many global news channels have local bureau's in Kabul, including: CNN, BBC, Sky News, DD News and Aljazeera.

With a combination of Afghan news and political programs, original reality TV shows, Bollywood movies and American programs like "24", ARIA TV is the first exclusive channel for children and teenagers, while Tolo TV is Afghanistan's most watched station. Saad Mohseni, chairman of Tolo's parent company, MOBY Group, said Moby's revenues are in the $20 million range and the media company operates at a profit.[26] Lemar TV, which broadcasts in Pashto language, is a sister channel of Tolo. Another channel that is mostly in Pashto is Shamshad TV, which is owned by another Afghan group. Sharq TV is also another TV channel that broadcasts in Pashto in the Eastern zone of Afghanistan, it is owned by Shaiq Network.

Baano TV is women dedecated channel started in July 2017. The channel is avilable in Kabul & Mazar-e-sharif as well as on all over afghanistan & middle east via satelite.


ABS "Afghanistan Broadcast System" a part of ACG "Asian Consulting Group" start its DTTV service under the trade name of Oqaab. Oqaab ((meaning “eagle” in Dari)),is a digital broadcasting service that allows users to see television in digital format. Digital TV is an advanced television format that provides a much better picture and sound quality when compared to traditional analog television. Users will continue to receive local channels for free while, coming soon, expanded premium channels will be offered for a low month fee. Today many new TV channels start their Broadcasting via ABS (OQAAB). ANAAR TV was the first Digital TV (DTT) which starts its broadcasting on 31st May 2015 dedicated to technology.

List of Digital TV channels are including but not limited to Anaar TV, Harirood TV (Now Afghanistan TV), Hadees TV, 10 TV, Mashal TV, 11TV, Meshrano Jerga TV (Parliament's 2nd TV channel) and Afghanistan Youth TV.

Internet

As in many other places, digital media is growing in Afghanistan. About 2.69 million online users were reported in 2015.[20] Internet access is growing through internet cafes as well as public "telekiosks" in Kabul. A number of online newspapers are available, such as Pajhwok Afghan News, Khaama Press and others.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Press Freedom 2013 Index Archived February 15, 2013, at the Wayback Machine., Reporters Without Borders.
  2. 1 2 http://www.cjr.org/cover_story/crossfire_in_kandahar.php?page=1
  3. ↑ http://en.rsf.org/afghanistan-hojatullah-mujadadi-nds-kapisa-18-10-2010,38568.html
  4. ↑ http://pulitzercenter.org/blog/untold-stories/afghan-journalist-detentions
  5. 1 2 Saikal, A., Farhadi, R. & Nourzahanov K. Modern Afghanistan: A History of Struggle and Survival. I.B.Tauris, 2006. ISBN 978-1-84511-316-2.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Afghanistan media, Press reference.
  7. ↑ Potichnyj, P. J. The Soviet Union: Party and Society. Cambridge University Press, 1988. ISBN 978-0-521-34459-3.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Dartnell, M. Y. Insurgency Online: Web Activism and Global Conflict. University of Toronto Press, 2006. ISBN 978-0-8020-8553-5.
  9. 1 2 World of Information. Middle East review 2003/04. Kogan Page Publishers.
  10. 1 2 Afghanistan Country Profile, BBC.
  11. ↑ http://pulitzercenter.org/projects/asia/lost-translation-telling-afghan-stories-west
  12. 1 2 3 Afghanistan country profile Archived 2014-04-08 at the Wayback Machine.. Library of Congress Federal Research Division (2006). This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  13. ↑ Kamalipour, Y. R. & Snow, R. War, Media, and Propaganda: A Global Perspective. Rowman & Little field, 2004. ISBN 978-0-7425-3563-3.
  14. ↑ Nai Media Watch data - violence against journalists.
  15. ↑ Afghan journalists protest raid on TV station ordered by attorney general, International Herald Tribune, April 18, 2007.
  16. ↑ http://pulitzercenter.org/blog/untold-stories/afghanistan-journalism-pajhwok-afghan-news-taliban
  17. ↑ http://www.tampabay.com/news/perspective/breaking-news-and-making-news/1146780
  18. ↑ "The Media Report" 22 June 2006
  19. ↑ http://www.rfi.fr/actuen/articles/116/article_4868.asp
  20. 1 2 3 4 "Afghanistan". The World Factbook. www.cia.gov. 2015. Retrieved 2017-05-16.
  21. ↑ Pigott, P. Canada in Afghanistan: The War So Far. Dundurn Press Ltd., 2007. ISBN 978-1-55002-674-0.
  22. 1 2 Afghanistan Press Report 2008 Archived June 23, 2011, at the Wayback Machine., Freedom House.
  23. ↑ http://www.bakhtarnews.com.af/eng/culture/item/2069-freedom-of-press-in-afghanistan.html
  24. 1 2 "ISAF Spokesman Discusses Progress in Afghanistan". International Security Assistance Force/NATO. July 25, 2011. Archived from the original on July 25, 2011. Retrieved December 6, 2011.
  25. ↑ Poole, E. & Muslims and the News Media. I.B.Tauris, 2006. ISBN 978-1-84511-172-4.
  26. ↑ http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/07/05/100705fa_fact_auletta?currentPage=1
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